Gastronomy becomes high-value service export for Türkiye

The third edition of the Van Culture Road Festival kicked off on Saturday in the eastern Turkish city of Van, marking the 10th stop in this year’s Türkiye Culture Road Festival, which spans 26 cities across the nation. The festival runs until July 19, offering nine days of cultural activities including concerts, exhibitions, workshops and culinary events. The event aims to celebrate and promote local cultural heritage through arts and tourism, with a particular focus on Van’s rich culinary traditions. The opening ceremony took place at the Van Museum, attended by high-profile figures including Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan, Van Governor Ozan Balcı, Van Member of Parliament Kayhan Türkmenoğlu, Türkiye Culture Road Festival General Director Selim Terzi and other local officials. Alpaslan highlighted the significance of bringing the festival to the ancient region of Van, which has been inhabited by numerous civilizations over millennia, from the Urartians and Assyrians to the Medes, Persians, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. Alpaslan emphasized the transformation of the festival from a single-city event initiated in 2021 into one of the world’s largest cultural festivals in terms of scale and public engagement. He noted that the festival has gained global recognition as a cultural and arts brand, helping to elevate the visibility of cities' cultural heritage and making arts and culture more accessible to the public. Additionally, the festival has contributed to boosting local economies by drawing visitors from across the country and reinforcing the cultural identity of participating cities. The 2026 edition of the Türkiye Culture Road Festival commenced in Şanlıurfa on April 25 and will conclude in Adana on November 15, running for 234 days, making it one of the longest-running cultural festival programs globally. This year’s Van edition places a stronger emphasis on gastronomy through the “Flavor Stops” initiative, which features 27 restaurants showcasing regional specialties. While Van is well-known for its iconic breakfast tradition, the “Flavor Stops” seek to demonstrate the breadth of the city’s culinary scene. At each of these Flavor Stops, meticulously crafted dishes reflect the artistry of Van’s chefs, transforming the city’s culinary heritage into a multisensory experience. Visitors can sample a variety of regional specialties, including herbed cheese, murtuğa, a traditional buttery egg-and-flour breakfast dish, and pearl mullet, alongside award-winning keledoş, a traditional lamb, yogurt and legume stew. These dishes offer insight into the depth and diversity of Van’s culinary heritage. In addition to culinary highlights, the festival includes a range of cultural events. Over 160 activities will take place across eight venues during the nine-day program. Among these, eight major outdoor concerts will be held at Atatürk Culture Park, featuring prominent Turkish artists such as Buray, Sefo, Kıraç, Simge, Fatma Turgut, Murat Boz, Sagopa Kajmer and Bayhan. The festival also includes exhibitions and workshops, providing opportunities for attendees to engage with local artisans and learn about traditional crafts. A dedicated exhibition at the Van Museum, titled “Living Heritage: Van,” showcases handcrafted carpets, reflecting the city’s artisanal skills and cultural legacy. Such displays contribute to the broader goal of preserving and promoting Van’s unique cultural identity through immersive experiences. As the festival continues, it promises to deliver a comprehensive celebration of Van’s historical, artistic and culinary contributions to Turkey’s cultural landscape.