16.05.2026 11:40
The new route of the Türkiye Culture Road Festival has begun in Eskişehir with festive excitement. The city's flavor map will be showcased at the first-ever Eskişehir Culture Road Festival. Together with gastronomy professionals and industry representatives, 33 "Flavor Points" have been determined in Eskişehir. Minister Ersoy stated that the "Flavor Point" initiative has transformed the festival into a powerful showcase highlighting the cities' cultural identity and local cuisines.
The excitement of the festival has begun in Eskişehir, the new route of the Türkiye Culture Route Festival. The city's flavor map will be showcased for the first time at the Eskişehir Culture Route Festival. Together with gastronomy professionals and industry representatives, 33 'Flavor Points' have been identified in Eskişehir. Minister Ersoy stated that with the 'Flavor Point' application, the festival has transformed into a powerful showcase highlighting the cultural identity and local cuisines of the cities.
The Eskişehir Culture Route Festival will become one of the meeting points of art and cultural life with events spread across different parts of the city.
The festival, inaugurated by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, will welcome visitors with hundreds of events ranging from concerts to exhibitions, workshops to talks.
The opening of the festival, which brought art lovers together at the Odunpazarı Modern Museum, was attended by Eskişehir Governor Dr. Erdinç Yılmaz, AK Party Eskişehir Deputies Ayşen Gürcan, Fatih Dönmez, Nebi Hatipoğlu, AK Party Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Gürhan Albayrak, and MHP Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Ayhan Sezer.
ALL CORNERS OF ESKİŞEHİR TO TURN INTO A FESTIVAL STAGE
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, in his speech at the festival's opening ceremony, emphasized that the Türkiye Culture Route Festival was implemented with a multi-faceted plan.
Ersoy also highlighted the festival's role in revitalizing cultural assets, saying: "Supporting art and artists, and enriching our people's socio-cultural life by bringing together our traditional values with international art practices is just one aspect of this festival. Another aspect is the revitalization of our cultural assets."
Ersoy noted that they have created carefully planned routes that highlight cultural assets in cities, and that event points have been determined in line with this approach.
Stating that the Eskişehir Culture Route Festival has this year transformed into a large organization covering 26 cities, Ersoy indicated that the city is the fourth stop of the Türkiye Culture Route Festival.
"Over 9 days, we will carry out a total of 177 events at 11 different points and under 59 different headings in our city," said Minister Ersoy, emphasizing that in its sixth year, the festival has become one of the world's largest festivals in terms of scope, events, artists, and participants.
In his speech, Minister Ersoy said, "This path, which we embarked on by thinking big, analyzing the reasons, calculating the requirements, and foreseeing the results and gains, has today become the world's largest festival in terms of duration, scope, number of events, artists, and participants; it has turned into a brand value for Turkey."
GASTRONOMY BECOMES THE NEW ATTRACTION OF THE FESTIVAL
Minister Ersoy, stating that they are working intensively to promote Turkish cuisine, said that gastronomy has been placed at the center of Turkey's tourism strategy. Minister Ersoy announced, "Together with TGA, we have placed gastronomy at the center of Turkey's tourism strategy."
Noting that the Türkiye Culture Route Festival, with its 'Flavor Point' application, has turned into a strong showcase in the field of gastronomy, Ersoy stated that this model makes the gastronomic values of cities visible. Minister Ersoy commented, "This application is a destination development model that makes the gastronomic assets of cities visible, supports local businesses, and brings festival participants together with the culture of our cities."
Emphasizing that Eskişehir's cuisine is one of the most special highlights of the festival, Ersoy stated that delicacies such as Walnut Poppy Seed Bread, Poppy Seed Pastries, Çibörek, Balaban Meatballs, and Gombo Soup will be offered to visitors.
Minister Ersoy, stating that they have identified 33 'Flavor Points' together with gastronomy professionals and industry representatives in Eskişehir, said, "A gastronomy route awaits our visitors, encompassing the traditional flavors I mentioned, met and nougat halva, stone oven products, boza, pickles, and various fermented tastes, as well as different flavors from our country and international cuisines."
Minister Ersoy also noted that the festival contributes directly to the city's economy, stating that they have received positive feedback from businesses in previous cities. Minister Ersoy said, "Our tradesmen stated that during the festival period, they experienced in one day the intensity they usually achieve in one week."
Emphasizing that the flavor points are not limited to the festival duration, Minister Ersoy said that the designated gastronomy stops will continue to guide visitors through digital platforms throughout the year.
THE FESTIVAL WILL BRING ACTIVITY TO EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY
Minister Ersoy, stating that the Türkiye Culture Route Festival makes strong contributions to the promotion of cities, domestic tourism, and the local economy, said, "When the Türkiye Culture Route Festival brings together all these elements, values, events, and applications, it offers effective promotion of our cities, significant mobility in domestic tourism, and a direct positive impact on our tradespeople and thus the local economy. This impact is increasing every year."
Referring to the events to be held within the festival's scope, Minister Ersoy said that Oğuzhan Koç, Sinan Akçıl, Levent Yüksel, Haluk Levent, Buray, Poizi, Bengü, Ebru Yaşar, and Sagopa Kajmer will meet music lovers on the main stage set up at the Turkish World Science Culture and Art Center.
Minister Ersoy noted that a musical story touching the heart, titled 'Sen de Gitme Triyandafilis,' will be staged at the Atatürk Culture and Art Congress Center, and that the Living Heritage Eskişehir Exhibition will bring together numerous cultural values—from meerschaum carving to glass art—with visitors.
Stating that 27 different workshops will be held with the participation of Intangible Cultural Heritage bearers, Ersoy said, "With the Living Heritage Short Film Screenings and a talk on meerschaum, we will tell, teach, and offer a multi-faceted artistic knowledge and experience of our traditional values."
Ersoy also noted that ASELSAN's 'Upcycling a Future Vision Exhibition' will meet visitors at the Eskişehir Eti Archaeology Museum, and reminded that a Children's Village has been set up in Dede Korkut Park for children.
Calling on the people of Eskişehir to the festival, Minister Ersoy concluded his speech by saying, "To not miss such a cultural and artistic feast, I invite the people of Eskişehir to our festival with their families."