The pulse of culture and art in Türkiye continues to accelerate in the first week of August.

From the slopes of the Black Sea to the valleys of Cappadocia, from the cool waters of the Bosphorus to the stone streets of Old Datça, this week's notable events include concerts, documentaries, exhibitions, release films, children's workshops and festivals.

Red Bull Formulaz, known for its traditional wooden car races in the Black Sea region, will be held for the 15th time on August 24, 2025, in the Tunca town of Ardeşen, Rize. The event, featuring hand-made wooden cars without engines, prioritizes not only speed but also balance and intelligence. Competitors are tested on the 1,000-meter track, which features hay bales, ramps, and curves.

The Balık Ekmek Jazz Concerts, held on the Bosphorus, bring music lovers together at the intersection of sea and jazz on August 29, September 5, and September 12. The concerts, held on boats departing from Bebek Ferry Pier, will feature the Emin Fındıkoğlu Orchestra, the Önder Focan Quartet, and the Peter Sarik Trio, respectively.

"Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols," a six-part documentary series airing on National Geographic on Sunday, August 3rd at 8:00 PM, provides a scientific and dramatic account of the founding of the great empire. It can be viewed on digital platforms.

AN AESTHETIC BRIDGE

Maison Magi, a prominent art venue in Eski Datça, is hosting an exhibition titled "When Little Bells Ring" from August 5th to 26th. Organized in collaboration with the Halka Sanat Proje (Circle Art Project), the exhibition features interdisciplinary works inspired by poetry by Doğu Çankaya, Evren Erol, and İpek Çankaya. The exhibition combines verses by poets such as Rimbaud, Kavafis, Éluard, and Madak with visual narrative to form an aesthetic bridge.

Paribu Cineverse theaters are currently screening a wide range of films, including the animated "Who Says We're Bad? 2," the action-comedy "The Naked Gun," the musical-biopic "Better Man: The Robbie Williams Story," the horror-thriller "Bring Him Back" and "Other," and the crime-drama "Ahmed and Ahmed." The newly released "Aile Arasında" (Aile Arasında) and "Dağ 2" are among the most prominent Turkish cinema releases of recent years.

THE CITY THAT BRINGS CIVILIZATION TOGETHER

The 20th edition of Contemporary Istanbul will take place this year at Tersane Istanbul from September 24–28. Focusing on the American contemporary art world, the fair will host representatives from institutions such as MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the Brooklyn Museum. Grimanesa Amorós' LED installation "PASSAGE & MARITIME" will be specially positioned in the fairgrounds, while topics such as digital art, architecture, collecting, and memory will be explored under the title CIF Dialogues.

The Nevşehir Culture Road Festival, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Cappadocia, takes place from August 2nd to 10th. The festival features a rich array of events that bring together Chinese and Turkish cultures. The program, which begins with a Chinese tea ceremony, dance performances, and a Turkish night, will continue throughout the week with children's workshops, fashion shows, theater performances, and digital art exhibitions. This year, the festival is being promoted with the theme "The City Bringing Together Civilizations."

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND IMAGINATION ARE SUPPORTED

Free workshops for children are being held as part of the "Creativity Club," which will be held at Istanbul's Cevahir Shopping Center from August 2nd to 31st. Activities themed around nature, the environment, and creative thinking are designed for children ages 4-11. The workshops are held in four sessions each weekend. Children's environmental awareness and imagination are encouraged with topics such as "Magic Forest," "No to Plastic Bags," "Tiny Forests from Tiny Hands," and a special workshop for August 30th Victory Day.

Zorlu PSM offers a wide range of events from August 4th to 10th, from concerts to yoga sessions. The film "Leon" will be shown on August 4th. Eren Dutlu will take the stage on August 6th, while Masego will perform "Trap House Jazz" on the Turkcell Stage the same day. The program also includes Serkan Eles' After Work Party on August 7th, Feyza Emir's City Sounds on August 8th, an Ari Barokas concert on August 9th, and a Nati Yoga morning session on August 10th.

LITERARY LANGUAGE AND POETIC EXPRESSION

This week's standout work in the literary world is Hasan Öztoprak's new novel, "Beyoğlu Sevgilim," published by Remzi Kitabevi. Set in the political and cultural atmosphere of the 1990s, the novel brings together the ghosts of the past and today's youth in Beyoğlu. Developing around the characters of Entel Ahmet and Zeynel Aras, the novel weaves around themes such as intergenerational conflict, loneliness, the changing urban memory, and the sense of belonging. The work, which portrays Beyoğlu as a third character, is notable for its literary language and poetic narrative.

This rich program of events awaits art lovers across Türkiye during the first week of August, a journey that connects with the past, opens doors to the future, and inspires. Each event showcases a different facet of art and a different need in society, while also reminding us of the unifying power of art.