17.05.2026 14:31
The 43rd Turkish Day Parade in New York was filled with great enthusiasm with thousands of participants. The Turkish-American community, filling the streets of Manhattan with Turkish flags, delivered a message of unity through mehteran performances, concerts, and a procession. A video message sent by President Erdoğan was also broadcast at the festival area.
The 43rd traditional parade organized by the Turkish-American community brought together thousands of members of the Turkish-American community in New York. The parade and the subsequent celebration program were filled with enthusiastic moments.
Organized by the Federation of Turkish American Associations (TADF) for the first time in 1981 as a reaction to the martyrdom of Turkish diplomats by the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA, the parade and subsequent festival, which later became traditional, were attended by representatives of the Turkish mission in the US, some bureaucrats, artists from Turkey, and representatives of various non-governmental organizations.
In the parade cortege, representatives of Turkish American civil society organizations were present, including Vice President of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications Ferhat Pirinççi, Chief Advisor to the President and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policies Board Ambassador Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan, Turkey's Washington Ambassador Sedat Önal, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN Ahmet Yıldız, and Turkey's New York Consul General Muhittin Ahmet Yazal.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN TO THE TURKISH COMMUNITY IN THE US
In the event, which saw intense participation from the Turkish-American community as well as from the TRNC, Azerbaijan, and the Turkish world, those coming from New York and surrounding states lined the sidewalks of Madison Avenue to watch the parade, while associations, schools, and similar educational institutions operating in various fields from sports to education saluted the protocol during the march.
After the march, which started from Madison 38th Street and continued to Madison Square Park at 25th Street, Turkish marches and melodies were performed by many artists at the concert area, while the enthusiasm of this season's league champion Galatasaray and other Turkish teams added color to the festival.
The celebrations continued at Madison Square Park after the march, starting with the reading of the Turkish National Anthem, followed by the viewing of a video message sent by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Turkish-American community at the festival area.
"THIS ENTHUSIASM IS AN EXPRESSION OF AN UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT OF UNITY"
Head of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications Burhanettin Duran, in his video message to the Turkish-American community, emphasized the importance of Turkish citizens living abroad in the context of Turkey's international presence and gave a message of unity and solidarity.
In his speech emphasizing the spirit of solidarity, Duran said, "This enthusiasm, painting the streets of Manhattan red and white, is not just an expression of a walk, but of a deep-rooted history, a strong identity, and an unbreakable spirit of unity."
"Turkey derives its strength from our unity and solidarity. With this spirit of solidarity, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome," said Duran, noting that the Turkish Day Parade is "the most concrete manifestation of this common spirit, strong belonging, and understanding."
TURKEY'S HISTORICAL AND TOURISTIC VALUES ALSO PROMOTED IN THE PARADE
Within the scope of the Turkish Day Parade, digital trucks organized by the Directorate of Communications and roaming the streets of New York conveyed Turkey's historical and touristic sites, cultural values, and environmental vision to the world public.
In the content broadcast on the screens of the digital trucks, values unique to cities such as Afyon, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kırşehir, Bursa, Kütahya, and Şanlıurfa, which are members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and stand out with gastronomy, music, and handicrafts, were promoted.
At the same time, the content extensively covered Turkey's global-scale environmental and sustainability efforts.
Messages specific to Turkey's environmental policies and Zero Waste vision, along with the COP31 Climate Summit that Turkey will host in Antalya in 2026, were also shared on the screens.
Meanwhile, Washington Ambassador Sedat Önal and New York Consul General Ahmet Yazal, who were invited to the podium at the festival, emphasized the importance of the Turkish Day Parade and Festival, making assessments highlighting the current standing of the Turkish-American community in the US.
Later, the performance of the Mehteran Unit under the Ministry of National Defense received great applause from the participants, and in the following hours, guests experienced enthusiastic moments with the performances of Turkish artists and folklore teams.
In the US, the march first organized in 1981 as a reaction to the martyrdom of a Turkish diplomat by the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA, had turned into a traditional celebration where Turkish culture was promoted in subsequent years.
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