
Şanlıurfa Culture Road Festival 2025: A Grand Celebration of Heritage as a UNESCO City of Music
Şanlıurfa, Turkey — From May 24 to June 1, 2025, the historic city of Şanlıurfa, proudly designated as a UNESCO City of Music, came alive with the vibrant energy of the Culture Road Festival, an important stop in Turkey’s nationwide Culture Road Festival series. Over nine days, nearly one million visitors celebrated the city’s rich musical heritage alongside its deep-rooted cultural traditions, positioning Şanlıurfa as a dynamic cultural hub on the global stage.

Şanlıurfa Takes the Global Cultural Stage with UNESCO “City of Music” Status
Şanlıurfa, Türkiye — With a history spanning nearly 12,000 years and home to some of the earliest traces of human civilization, Şanlıurfa has taken a major step to elevate its cultural heritage by joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network under the title of “City of Music.” İn 2023. The launch ceremony, held on 23 October 2024 at the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, aimed to showcase the city’s rich musical traditions to the international community.