Istanbul Fireworks Calendar 2026–2027: Dates, Times and Where to Watch

Short answer: Istanbul has two fixed fireworks nights a year: 29 October, Republic Day (evening, Bosphorus) and New Year’s Eve (midnight, Bosphorus). The conquest anniversary on 29 May and Victory Day on 30 August have shows in some years. Exact times are announced a few days before each show; this page is updated as programmes are published. Below: the calendar, where to watch and the rules.

Istanbul Fireworks Calendar 2026–2027

29 October: the biggest show of the year

On Republic Day evening the Bosphorus is celebrated with a fireworks, light and drone show; in recent years centred on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge between Ortaköy and Beylerbeyi. In 2023, the centenary year, the show ran from 19:50 to 20:15; in earlier years it started around 19:30. Times change every year and the city publishes the programme only a few days before. In 2026 the sun sets at 18:04 that day and it is dark by 18:33, so the blue hour and the bridge lights coming on fit into the same evening before the show. The full evening plan is on the Republic Day page; the bridge’s story is in our Bosphorus bridges guide.

New Year’s Eve

The midnight show is over the Bosphorus; for 2026 it was around the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and Ortaköy, and in Taksim, with the shores full from Sarayburnu to Bebek. On the water there is the tradition of every vessel sounding its horn at 00:00. Two options: the New Year’s Eve party cruise sold per person (boarding 21:00, back around 02:00) and the private New Year’s Eve charter with the whole yacht to yourselves. 31 December is the first night of the year to sell out; the date is only held on confirmation.

Other shows: 29 May and 30 August

29 May is the anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul: in 2026 the 573rd-year celebration on the Üsküdar waterfront ended at sunset (about 21:00) with fireworks lighting up the water around the Maiden’s Tower. 30 August, Victory Day, is mostly a daytime event: in 2026 a 15-ship naval parade entered from Rumeli Lighthouse at 09:30 and passed the Maiden’s Tower by 11:30, with SoloTürk flying over the strait; fireworks are not held every year, and when they were, they were off Kuleli. For both dates the right product is a private charter: you set the departure time to the programme. For any other night there is the night cruise; to line it up with a full moon, see the full moon calendar.

Where to watch: shore and water

Rules: fireworks permits and bans

Fireworks are not a free-for-all in Türkiye; they need a permit. Under the Environmental Noise Control Regulation (December 2022), use requires a permit from the local administrative authority with the place and time declared, and is limited to 20:00–22:00. On top of that, in summer 2025 the Istanbul Governorate banned the sale and use of fireworks, flares and torches across the province from 29 July to 28 October because of wildfire risk. That is why we do not launch fireworks from the yacht or offer them as an extra; every show in the calendar is an official or permitted one.

Fireworks Calendar FAQ

Are there fireworks in Istanbul tonight?

The “tonight” line above is the answer; we update it with the date at every check. The two fixed nights of the year are 29 October and New Year’s Eve. Other shows (the conquest anniversary, festivals, concerts, private events) are added to the calendar as they are announced.

What time are the fireworks on 29 October?

The exact time is announced by the city and the governorate a few days before, every year. In 2023, the centenary year, the show ran from 19:50 to 20:15; in earlier years it started around 19:30. Our Republic Day sailing leaves Karaköy at 19:00 and returns at 21:00; once the programme is out we confirm the slot with every guest who has a booking.

Where are the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Istanbul?

For 2026 the shows were around the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and Ortaköy, and in Taksim; Sarayburnu, Bebek and Arnavutköy were the busiest shores. To watch from the water there is the New Year’s Eve party cruise (per person, boarding 21:00) or a private New Year’s Eve charter with the whole yacht to yourselves.

Where is the best place to watch?

On land: the Ortaköy and Beşiktaş waterfront, the Üsküdar and Beylerbeyi shore, Sarayburnu. All of them mean arriving early and leaving with the same crowd afterwards. On the water: the yacht sits at a point with a clear line of sight to the bridge, no buildings or trees in front, and brings you back to your pier when the show ends. During the show the authorities set a safety zone on the water; the captain positions the yacht inside the permitted area, and we do not promise a specific distance.

Can we set off our own fireworks from the yacht?

No. Under Türkiye’s Environmental Noise Control Regulation, fireworks need a permit from the local administrative authority with the time and place declared, and use is limited to 20:00–22:00. In summer 2025 the Istanbul Governorate banned the sale and use of fireworks, flares and torches across the province from 29 July to 28 October because of wildfire risk. We do not launch fireworks from the yacht and do not offer them as an extra; we watch the official shows from the water.

How much is a private yacht on a fireworks night?

The whole yacht from €150 per hour, 2-hour minimum; food and drinks are quoted separately. On 29 October you can also join the shared sailing at €34 per person, or €40 with the wine package. New Year’s Eve is priced separately: the party cruise from €250 per person, the private charter from €900.

What if the show is cancelled?

Official shows can change at short notice for weather or security reasons; that is outside our control. The charter still goes ahead: the sunset, the blue hour and the lit bridges are there on that night too. As soon as we learn of a programme change we pass it on to guests with a booking.

Calendar last updated 30 September 2026. For sunset times see Istanbul sunset times.