Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - London

Echoing Travelogues: The Beyond and Us | Concert
2026-06-12 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | The Tabernacle, 34–35 Powis Square Notting Hill, London, W11 2AY, United Kingdom
Dareyn Ensemble & Holland Baroque in Concert
Click for the Brochure
Click for the Persian Translation Flyer
Echoing Travelogues: The Beyond and Us, led by artistic director and lead artist Emine Bostancı, is an immersive performance shaped by a curatorial vision that brings together music, history, and storytelling into a unified dramaturgical journey. Under her leadership, an international ensemble bridges Ottoman, Persian, and European traditions within a single interdisciplinary work.
Featuring Emine Bostancı (Istanbul kemenche), the ensemble includes Zeynep Yıldız Abbasoğlu (kanun), Judith Steenbrink (baroque violin), Tineke Steenbrink (positive organ), and Vinsent Planjer (percussion), with narration by Nora Fischer. Together, they span Ottoman court music, Mevlevi ritual traditions, Persian classical music, and European Baroque repertoire.
The programme invites audiences on a journey across centuries and cultures; from Istanbul to Vienna, and from Persia to Europe. Inspired by the travel diaries of diplomats and explorers (15th–18th centuries), it brings to life the sounds and encounters that shaped cultural exchange across continents.
The work draws on historical travel diaries, including figures such as Levinus Warner, exploring how cultures define themselves through encounters with “the other”. It highlights identity as something shaped through exchange and perception, rather than fixed boundaries.
The performance features music from Ottoman, Persian, and early European traditions, performed on historical instruments. Iconic spaces such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Mevlevi lodges, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral are reimagined through 4D sound design, creating an immersive spatial experience.
The production is supported by an international creative team, including Head of Research Dr. Zeynep Yıldız Abbasoğlu, sound designer Dr. Hasan Baran Fırat, and video designer Ataman Girişken, and is developed in collaboration with Holland Baroque and 4DSound. Produced by Muziekgebouw Productiehuis and Dareyn Foundation, the work combines historical research, spatial audio practices, and contemporary performance technologies to create a richly layered artistic experience.
Organised by Yunus Emre Institute in London, the project positions London as a meeting point for historical reflection, artistic dialogue, and intercultural exchange.
More than a concert, Echoing Travelogues: The Beyond and Us is a sensory exploration of memory, identity, and cultural imagination.
Event Details
Date: Friday, 12 June 2026
Venue: The Tabernacle, 34–35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY, London
Time: 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM)
Click for the Brochure
Click for the Persian Translation Flyer
Join us for an evocative evening of music and storytelling.

Piano Recital: Sweet Waters of Asia with Rüya Taner
2026-06-13 19:00 - 20:00 | St James Piccadily
A journey from Türkiye to the Silk Road, heading toward the depths of Asia.

Sweet Waters of Asia (Asya’nın Tatlı Suları) is a concert project by internationally acclaimed pianist Rüya Taner, inspired by the historic cultural routes of the Silk Road. The performance will take place on Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 7:00 pm at St. James’s Piccadilly, London.
Conceived as a musical journey across cultures, the programme explores a sonic landscape stretching from Russia and Türkiye to the Caucasus and Central Asia. It brings together works by leading composers of the Romantic tradition, including Mikhail Glinka, Alexander Borodin, and Sergei Lyapunov, whose music reflects the 19th-century fascination with Eastern themes and tonal colours.
Alongside these are compositions by internationally recognised contemporary composers such as Fazıl Say, Kamran İnce, and Aziza Mustafazadeh, whose works bridge classical traditions with modern expression and regional influences.
The programme also highlights the rich musical heritage of Azerbaijan and Central Asia through works by Vasif Adigözalov and Rovshen Nepesov, complemented by Rüya Taner’s own piano arrangements of traditional Turkish melodies, bringing historical musical traditions into dialogue with the modern concert stage.
Following the success of her internationally presented project Sweet Waters of Europe, Rüya Taner continues her artistic exploration eastward, offering a programme that celebrates the diverse musical voices of Asia and the cultural connections that unite them.
The concert forms part of the Sweet Waters of Asia project, with Bromcom as principal sponsor, and with Yunus Emre Institute as a key cultural partner, alongside Tower Garments London and the Turkish Women’s Philanthropic Association. It is presented under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in London, in cooperation with the TRNC London Representative Office.

Additional Information:

Please arrive by 6:30 PM to allow sufficient time for seating. To ensure an uninterrupted experience for both performers and audience, late entry will not be permitted after 7:10 PM.
The event lasts approximately 60 – 65 minutes with no intermission.
St. James’ Piccadilly is easily accessible by public transport; please check local routes and parking options.
Smart casual attire is recommended.
As seating is unreserved, we suggest arriving early.
Guests are welcome to take photos during the concert; however, we kindly ask that no flash is used and that photography remains discreet so as not to disturb the performers or audience. Please remain seated while taking photos and avoid moving around the venue during the performance.
If you share your images on social media, we would be delighted if you could tag us @yeelondra.

Professional photography and videography will be carried out exclusively by authorised personnel appointed by the organiser. Please be advised that recording and photography will take place during the event for archival, marketing, and promotional purposes. By attending this event, you consent to the Yunus Emre Institute capturing and using images and footage for these purposes.
The concert is recommended for ages 16 and above due to its immersive and contemplative format. Children aged 7 and above may attend if accompanied by an adult and provided they are able to remain seated and quiet throughout the performance. As the event runs without an interval and requires a focused listening environment, parents are kindly asked to ensure that young attendees do not disturb performers or audience members. In the event of disruption, we reserve the right to request that the accompanying adult and child step outside the hall.
📩 Questions? Email: londra@yee.org.tr

Talk | Identity, Belonging, and Migrant Meaning-Making by Semanur Darbaz
2026-06-22 18:30 - 20:30
Young Scholar Seminar Series #41
Identity, Belonging, and Migrant Meaning-Making in Turkish Museums with Semanur Darbaz (Nottingham Trent University)
Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London is pleased to host the 41st session of its Young Scholar Seminar Series, featuring Semanur Darbaz, researcher and museum practitioner at Nottingham Trent University
This talk looks at how museums in Turkey represent migration, cultural diversity and belonging, and how visitors with migrant backgrounds interpret these narratives. The research examines whether museums can function as spaces of social cohesion and belonging, while also critically questioning the Western epistemological assumptions that shape understandings of museums as a universal modern institution tied to nation-building, and social progress.
By situating Turkish museums within local histories of identity formation and cultural politics, the project offers a decolonial and context-sensitive contribution to critical museum studies. Combining walking interviews at museum visits, group discussions, and creative participatory methods, the research highlights both the possibilities and the limits of museums as spaces where identity, belonging, and alternative social imaginaries can be negotiated.
📅 Date: Monday, 22 June 2026
🕡 Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, 10 Maple Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 5HA
🗣️ Language: English
🎟️ Admission: Free (registration required)

This talk forms part of the Young Scholar Seminar Series organised by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London since 2017.
For more information on the event, please visit Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London’s Website: https://yeelondon.org.uk/ or email us at londra@yee.org.tr
IMPORTANT NOTES: As this is a free event, we often experience a number of no-shows. To make sure seats don’t go empty, we may issue a limited number of additional tickets. Admission is therefore subject to venue capacity and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that registration or an e-ticket does not guarantee a seat, and standing admission may be possible.
Photography and filming will take place during the event for archiving, marketing, and promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to Yunus Emre Institute using such images and footage in related publications, digital platforms, and promotional materials.
Thank you for your understanding.

Music Across Borders Session 5: The Caucasus
2026-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, 10 Maple Street, London, W1T 5HA, United Kingdom
Join the fifth session of Music Across Borders, a Listening Club series exploring the musical connections between Türkiye and its cultural neighbours. Moderated by musicologist and pianist Prof. Dr Mine Doğantan-Dack, this session invites participants on a listening journey across the Caucasus, tracing the forests, fog-covered mountains, and high “yayla” plateaus of north-eastern Turkey and the Caucasus.
Session V — The Caucasus explores a region of magical landscapes and extraordinarily rich musical traditions, and home to more than fifty distinct ethnic groups and one of the most linguistically dense places on earth. From the shadow of Kars Castle, to the Black Sea coast and the mountain villages of the Caucasus, we will move through Turkish, Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian traditions, immersing ourselves in the Âşıklık heritage, the beautiful art of mugham, and the unique polyphonic singing of Georgia.
Along the way you will enjoy the music of Kemani Tatyos Efendi, “Baba” Hamparsum, Shovket Elekberova, Flora Kerimova, Hamlet Gonashvili, Nermine Memmedova, İzzet Altınmeşe, Barış Manço, Rashid Behbudov, Alim Qasimov, Zeyneb Khanlarova, Djivan Gasparyan, Ensemble Rustavi, Arif Sağ, Selda Bağcan, and more. To the accompaniment of the fierce energy of Lezginka and Black Sea folk dances, this session will bring to life the legends of Köroğlu and Şeyh Şamil, and the widely shared symbolic motifs of the region including the eagle, the deer, and the crane – echoes of kinship beneath a shared sky.
Session V — The CaucasusDate: Friday, 26th JuneTime: 6:00 pmVenue: Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, 10 Maple Street, W1T 5HA
Limited spaces.
Explore the curated listening list and playlist for this session here
No musical training required – open to all music lovers and curious listeners.
This session is part of a six-session Listening Club series exploring musical cultures across the Balkans, the Levant, the Aegean, Persia, the Turkic world, and the Ottoman musical sphere. For more info please click here!
For more information on the event, please email us at londra@yee.org.tr
IMPORTANT NOTES
This in-person event is open to participants aged 16 and above.
Please note that this event is first come first served and may be overbooked. To avoid disappointment, please arrive early and secure your seat. If you have registered but are unable to attend, please cancel your ticket to allow others to join. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please be advised that filming and/or photography will be taking place at the event for the purposes of archiving, marketing, and all other publications. By entering this event, you consent to the Yunus Emre Institute taking photographs and videos and using them.

Bradford Literature Festival 2026
2026-07-03 08:00 - 2026-07-12 17:00 | Bradford, United Kingdom
Celebrating Turkish Culture Through Art, Thought, and Tradition
Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London is proud to participate in Bradford Literature Festival 2026, one of the UK’s most celebrated cultural events, with a vibrant programme that brings the richness of Turkish arts, literature, and heritage to the heart of West Yorkshire.
Spanning two weekends, our contribution includes a series of thought-provoking talks, hands-on workshops, and captivating performances that reflect the depth and diversity of Anatolian cultural traditions. From classical crafts such as Calligraphy, and bookbinding to intellectual discussions on Ottoman aesthetics and the Turkish Sufi Tradition, the programme offers something for everyone—whether you’re a curious beginner, an art enthusiast, or a seasoned scholar.
Highlights of our 2026 programme include:

Traditional Ottoman Bookbinding Talk
Traditional Ottoman Bookbinding Workshop
Shadow Puppet Magic: Karagöz & Hacivat Puppet Show
Islamic Calligraphy Masterclass, Session One
Islam Between East and West
Ottoman Calligraphy Master Talk & Demonstration
Islamic Calligraphy Masterclass, Session Two
Introductory Ottoman Calligraphy Workshop
Yunus Emre and the Turkish Sufi Tradition
Turkish Classical and Sufi Music Concert

In addition to public-facing events, we’re also delighted to collaborate with local organisations, artists, and educators, furthering our mission to promote mutual understanding through shared cultural experiences.
Through this broad spectrum of activities, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London invites festival visitors to experience the beauty, refinement, and living heritage of Turkish culture—celebrated not as a relic of the past, but as a dynamic tradition that continues to inspire.
We look forward to welcoming you at Bradford Literature Festival 2026—a meeting point of ideas, creativity, and community.
