This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Side’s event calendar peaks in September, when the ancient theatres of Side and Aspendos host major performances. Through the summer, resorts run their own entertainment, and national holidays bring parades and public celebrations across the region. This guide is part of our Side travel guide.
Side Events in September: Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival
The International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival is the region’s headline cultural event, held across roughly two weeks in September at the 2,000-year-old Aspendos Theatre. In 2026 it ran from 12 to 26 September, with performances at 21:00 including Verdi’s Attila, Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and the Spartacus ballet. Tickets are sold through the State Opera and Ballet and Biletinial, and shuttle services pick up from hotels in Side from about 18:45. For transfer and hotel pickup details, see the Side travel tips page, and pair the festival with a day seeing the rest of the things to do in Side.
Side Events in September: Side Culture and Art Festival
Side’s own International Culture and Art Festival runs in the second half of September, staging classical and folk music concerts inside the ancient theatre on the peninsula, in the heart of the Side neighborhoods old town. September daytime highs of 31 C ease to comfortable evenings, so an open-air performance needs only a light layer; check the Side weather by month page for September conditions. Dates shift slightly each year, so confirm the schedule locally.
Side Events in Summer: Resort Shows and Turkish Nights
From May to October, the big all-inclusive resorts in Kumkoy, Titreyengol, and Sorgun, listed in the where to stay in Side guide, run nightly entertainment: Turkish folk dance nights, live music, and poolside shows, all included for guests. Local restaurants in the old town put on Turkish night evenings with belly dancing and traditional food for around 800 to 1,200 TL a head. There is no single marquee summer festival in Side itself, but these resort shows are the practical nightly option.
Side Events Year-Round: National Holidays
Turkish national holidays bring flags, parades, and a day off across Side. Republic Day on 29 October marks the founding of the Turkish Republic with ceremonies in Manavgat and Antalya. Victory Day on 30 August and the 19 May Youth and Sports Day are quieter public holidays. Ramadan (Ramazan) and the Eid holidays that follow shift about 10 days earlier each year on the Islamic calendar; expect late-night meals, busier markets, and fuller domestic travel around Eid. Planning around Ramadan matters for the best time to visit Side timing if you want to avoid domestic travel peaks.
