Fethiye’s event calendar follows the Mediterranean rhythm: outdoor sports festivals in spring and autumn when temperatures are comfortable, cultural events in May and June before the summer heat peaks, and the major paragliding and marathon events in September and October when the weather is still warm but the crowds have thinned. Most events are free to watch, with only competitive entries requiring registration fees. Here is the full rundown of annual events, sorted by season. For a complete overview of the region, see our Fethiye travel guide. For more on this, see our Fethiye weather by month guide.
Events and Festivals in Fethiye: Spring (March to May)
Oludeniz Spring Meeting Festival (mid-April)
A three-day outdoor sports festival held at Oludeniz Beach featuring paragliding demonstrations, hiking group walks, sea kayaking tryout sessions, and live music in the evenings. Organised by the local paragliding cooperatives, it marks the start of the flying season. Most activities are free to watch and participate. Exact dates vary year to year but always fall in the second or third week of April. Check babadag.com for the current year’s schedule. For more on this, see our best time to visit guide. For more on this, see our things to do in Fethiye guide.
International Children’s Festival (April 23)
Part of Turkey’s nationwide National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebration, Fethiye hosts visiting student groups from multiple countries who perform traditional dances and music at the town square and along the Kordon. The performances run throughout the day and are free to watch. The town decorates with Turkish flags and banners. Most restaurants along the harbour offer special children’s menus for the day. For more on this, see our where to stay guide. For more on this, see our Fethiye travel tips guide.
Fethiye International Culture and Arts Festival (mid-May)
A week-long festival featuring concerts (Turkish folk, classical, and contemporary), dance performances, art exhibitions, and street theatre at venues across Fethiye, including the harbour amphitheatre and the town square. The festival has run annually since 2012. Entry to most events is free. The programme typically includes visiting artists from Balkan and Mediterranean countries. Check the Fethiye Municipality website or the tourist information office on the Kordon for the schedule, usually published in early April.
Events and Festivals in Fethiye: Summer (June to August)
Victory Day (August 30)
A national public holiday commemorating the Turkish War of Independence victory in 1922. In Fethiye, the day is marked by a morning parade along the Kordon, a flyover by the Turkish Stars aerobatic display team (some years, not guaranteed), and evening concerts at the harbour. Banks and government offices close for the day but tourist businesses operate normally. The parade typically starts at 10:00 from the Ataturk statue at the north end of the Kordon.
Events and Festivals in Fethiye: Autumn (September to November)
Lycian Way Ultra Marathon (late September)
A six-day stage race covering 240km of the Lycian Way from Oludeniz to Antalya, organised by the Lycian Way Ultra Marathon association. The start line is at Oludeniz Beach, with the first stage climbing Babadag. Entry fees are approximately 400-500 euros for international runners, covering accommodation, meals, and medical support at checkpoints. Spectators can watch the start and finish of each stage. Registration opens in January on the race website (lycianwayultramarathon.com) and typically sells out by March. Even if you are not running, the start day brings a festival atmosphere to Oludeniz with food stalls and live music.
Oludeniz Air Games Festival (mid-October)
The biggest event on Fethiye’s calendar, drawing 1,000-plus paragliders and aerial athletes from over 60 countries for five days of competitions, aerobatic displays, and evening concerts on Oludeniz Beach. Events include accuracy landing competitions, acrobatic paragliding, paramotor displays, and wing suit flying. The sky above Oludeniz fills with hundreds of colourful canopies. Spectator entry is free. Evening concerts run from 20:00 to midnight on a beachside stage. Dates vary but always fall in the second or third week of October. Accommodation in Oludeniz and Hisaronu books out months in advance. If you plan to attend, reserve by June. The festival website is babadag.com.
Republic Day (October 29)
A national holiday marking the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Fethiye celebrates with a morning parade, flag displays, and evening fireworks over the harbour. The parade runs along the Kordon starting at 10:00. Torchlight processions are held in the evening in some years. Banks and government offices close but tourist services run normally.
Events and Festivals in Fethiye: Winter (December to February)
New Year’s Eve (December 31)
Many hotels and restaurants along the Kordon and in Oludeniz host New Year’s Eve gala dinners with set menus, live music, and midnight fireworks over the harbour. Prices for gala dinners range from 50 to 120 USD per person depending on the venue. Advance booking is essential; most sell out by mid-December. The town square puts up a Christmas tree and light displays through the first week of January, a concession to the large British and European expat community.
