02 July 2026
A Wave of Culture and Art in Istanbul: Exhibitions to Visit in Beyoğlu All Summer Long
With the arrival of summer and rising temperatures, Istanbul’s dynamic culture and arts scene continues unabated. As the doors open to a wonderful season for art lovers, the city’s heart—Beyoğlu—has practically turned into an open-air museum, hosting a variety of high-quality, free exhibitions. For those interested in cultural and artistic itineraries, a variety of exhibitions await visitors in Beyoğlu’s historic streets and established galleries. Spanning from classical painting to contemporary installations, and from digital art to historical archive exhibitions, this wide selection offers an unmissable cultural itinerary for both those staying in Istanbul and visitors to the city this summer.
In Beyoğlu, the heart of Istanbul, with the arrival of summer, local and international independent artists, along with established cultural institutions, are presenting their latest works and thematic selections to art lovers through free exhibition models and gallery tours all with the aim of bringing art to every segment of society and revitalizing the city’s culture.
Along with the “Beyoğlu Exhibition Routes and Final Visit Dates,”
we’ve compiled a list of the must-see exhibitions and their schedules in Beyoğlu for you:
• Martch Art Project: The exhibition “A Better Place,” reflecting Cenk Düzyol’s innovative perspective, ends on July 4.
• Shiva Zahed Gallery: The “Against Transparency” exhibition by Ahmad Rafi will remain open until July 5.
• Artxist & Zilberman Gallery & The Wall Art Gallery: Serkan Yüksel’s “The Foam of the Years” and Eşref Yıldırım’s “It Rained a Lot That Day” exhibitions will welcome visitors through July 18. On the same date, the “Enchanted Garden” exhibition by George Khomich at The Wall Art Gallery will also come to a close.
• Öktem Aykut: “Nested,” a collaborative work by Bora Başkan and Mesut Öztürk, can be your stop in Beyoğlu until July 25.
• Ekavart Gallery: “Summer Love IX,” part of the gallery’s now-traditional summer group shows, runs through August 9.
• Salt Beyoğlu: “Leaks from the Dam,” which focuses on environmental and social memory, remains one of the strongest contemporary art stops on the list through August 23.
• Casa Botter & Tarhan Han: The exhibition “A Painter of Color: İhsan Cemal Karaburçak” at Casa Botter—one of Istanbul’s new art architecture landmarks—runs through August 30, and Rahşan Düren’s “Play Again” at Tarhan Han is open to the public free of charge through August 29.
• Metrohan: Set against the historic building’s atmosphere, the exhibition “One Shore, Two Stories: Life in the Süleymaniye and Zeyrek World Heritage Sites” sheds light on Istanbul’s rich history through September 20.
• Meshru Istanbul: Hüseyin Arıcı’s exhibition “Finally” continues through October 14.
• Meşher İstanbul: The institution’s “The Art of Travel | Ars Apodemica” spans a very broad timeframe, running through May 23, 2027.
• Yapı Kredi Culture and Arts: “Traces of the Century / The Koç Group and Art,” which explores the intersections of Turkey’s industrial and art histories, will be on view at a prime location on Istiklal Avenue through November 29.
• ANAMED Koç University Center for Anatolian Civilizations Research: The exhibition “The Light Is Here: Home, Neighborhood, Palace, and City,” which focuses on urban history, offers a long-term archive on view through January 24, 2027.
For those looking to soak up the city’s cultural fabric and plan a budget-friendly weekend activity, saving this list is a real lifesaver. Don’t forget to mark these dates on your calendar.
See you soon—stay inspired by art!