Best events: Ankara, Turkey - October 2026

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October 2026 brings an unusually broad programme of concerts, theatre, opera, family performances and hands-on workshops to Ankara, Turkey. This guide focuses on verified capital-city events scheduled for the upcoming month. The selections are centred on CSO Ada Ankara, one of Ankara’s key performing-arts complexes. Programme times, dates and halls have been checked against the venue’s published calendar. Music lovers can choose between symphonic concerts, Turkish classical music and popular performers. Theatre and opera programmes add strong options for evening cultural plans. Families will find daytime shows and creative activities during the school-break-friendly weekends. Most listed performances begin at 20:00, while children’s events and workshops take place earlier in the day. Because schedules can change, check the organiser’s latest listing before travelling. Ankara’s October programme offers a practical reason to combine a city break with a memorable night out.

CSO Ada Ankara: Opening Week

Selami Şahin ile Sezon Açılış Konseri — Ankara, Turkey — 2 October 2026

Date/time: 2 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Selami Şahin opens the venue’s new season with an orchestral concert in its principal hall.

Presidential Symphony Orchestra Opening Concert — Ankara, Turkey — 3 October 2026

Date/time: 3 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: The Cumhurbaşkanlığı Senfoni Orkestrası marks its 200th year with conductor Cemi’i Can Deliorman and pianist Behzod Abduraimov.

Mila’nın Sihirli Orkestrası — Ankara, Turkey — 3 October 2026

Date/time: 3 October 2026, 13:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: This family-oriented show uses an 11-person orchestra and animated storytelling to introduce children to instruments.

Ulu Ozanlar ve Kırk Saz — Ankara, Turkey — 4 October 2026

Date/time: 4 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: The concert explores the tradition of Anatolian poet-musicians and Turkish folk music.

CSO Ada Ankara: Music, Opera and Family Events

La Diva Turca — Ankara, Turkey — 9 October 2026

Date/time: 9 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: The Presidential Symphony Orchestra presents a concert in memory of soprano Leyla Gencer, conducted by Antonio Pirolli.

Operalardan Seçtiklerimiz — Ankara, Turkey — 10 October 2026

Date/time: 10 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Ankara State Opera and Ballet artists perform a programme of opera selections.

Çocuklar için Müzik ve Opera — Ankara, Turkey — 10 October 2026

Date/time: 10 October 2026, 13:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: A child-focused opera programme introduces young audiences to vocal music with soloists, narrator and piano.

Kuşlara Yuva Yapalım Workshop — Ankara, Turkey — 10 October 2026

Date/time: 10 October 2026, 15:00.
Venue/city: Foyer, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Participants create a three-dimensional birdhouse using wooden materials in a nature-conscious workshop.
Tickets/entry: Every participant requires a ticket.

Musa Göçmen Efsaneler Senforock — Ankara, Turkey — 10 October 2026

Date/time: 10 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Musa Göçmen’s Senforock programme brings the music of Cem Karaca, Barış Manço and Erkin Koray into a symphonic-rock setting.

Oz Büyücüsü — Ankara, Turkey — 11 October 2026

Date/time: 11 October 2026, 13:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: A family stage production follows Dorothy’s journey through a fantastical land in search of the Wizard of Oz.

Ankara Ferfene Gecesi – Hüdayda — Ankara, Turkey — 13 October 2026

Date/time: 13 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: This programme commemorates the 103rd anniversary of Ankara becoming the capital and draws on the local Hüdayda story and musical tradition.

CSO Ada Ankara: Mid-Month Evenings

İki Keman, Bir Miras — Ankara, Turkey — 16 October 2026

Date/time: 16 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: The Presidential Symphony Orchestra honours violinist Suna Kan, with Gürer Aykal conducting and Pelin Halkacı Akın and Özgecan Günöz on violin.

Demet Sağıroğlu & Barbaros — Ankara, Turkey — 17 October 2026

Date/time: 17 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Demet Sağıroğlu and Barbaros bring a wide-ranging live repertoire spanning pop, jazz and classical influences.

Mum Işığı Konseri Bridge — Ankara, Turkey — 18 October 2026

Date/time: 18 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: The cello project bridge. blends classical music with rock, Anatolian rock, pop and folk repertoire in a candlelit setting.

Dünden Bugüne Unutulmayan Şarkılar — Ankara, Turkey — 21 October 2026

Date/time: 21 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Ankara State Classical Turkish Music Choir soloists Meltem Seyfelioğlu and Mahmut İhsan Çalış perform memorable Turkish songs.

CSO Ada Ankara: Late-October Highlights

Melankoli ve Gül — Ankara, Turkey — 23 October 2026

Date/time: 23 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: The Presidential Symphony Orchestra performs with conductor Leo Hussain and violinist Diana Tishchenko in a programme developed with United Nations cooperation.

Magic Bubbles — Ankara, Turkey — 24 October 2026

Date/time: 24 October 2026, 17:00.
Venue/city: Foyer, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: A colourful bubble-based family show turns bubbles into an imaginative visual performance.
Tickets/entry: Every participant requires a ticket.

Ercan Köktürk – Farid Farjad Eserleri — Ankara, Turkey — 24 October 2026

Date/time: 24 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Violinist Ercan Köktürk performs works associated with Farid Farjad.

Fatih Erkoç ile Alaturka Zamanı — Ankara, Turkey — 25 October 2026

Date/time: 25 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Fatih Erkoç performs well-loved Turkish music with Zafer Çebi and the orchestra.

Göğe Yazılmış Bir Alp — Ankara, Turkey — 29 October 2026

Date/time: 29 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Bankkart Mavi Salon, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Ankara State Theatre presents a play inspired by the life and ideas of Ziya Gökalp.

Taşlara Hayat Veren Eller Workshop — Ankara, Turkey — 31 October 2026

Date/time: 31 October 2026, 15:00.
Venue/city: Foyer, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: This creative workshop uses natural stones as surfaces for animal and plant motifs.
Tickets/entry: Every participant requires a ticket.

Pınar Aylin İle Muhteşem 90’lar: Kasetleri Geri Sarıyoruz — Ankara, Turkey — 31 October 2026

Date/time: 31 October 2026, 20:00.
Venue/city: Ziraat Bankası Main Hall, CSO Ada Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
Why go: Pınar Aylin closes the month with a nostalgia-led 1990s concert.

Practical planning tips for Ankara, Turkey

Reserve promptly for performances that matter most, especially Friday and Saturday evening concerts. Reconfirm the date, start time, language details and entry conditions with the organiser before booking travel. Allow extra time to reach the venue and use Ankara’s metro, bus or taxi network according to your accommodation and late-evening return plans. October weather in Ankara can vary substantially between daytime and evening, so bring layers and a light waterproof outer layer. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before an evening performance to find the correct hall and complete any ticket procedures. Keep your schedule flexible around 29 October, a national public holiday in Turkey, when central-city activity and transport demand may be higher.