30.04.2026 16:34
The Istanbul Governorship announced in its statement regarding May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day that celebrations will be held at Kadıköy Pier and Kartal Squares. All types of rallies, demonstrations, and marches have been banned in the districts of Beyoğlu, Şişli, Fatih, and Beşiktaş.
The Istanbul Governorship announced that May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day will be celebrated at Kadıköy Pier and Kartal Squares, and that no unauthorized demonstrations, marches, protests, or organizations will be permitted throughout the province.
In the statement made by the Istanbul Governorship, it was stated that May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day will be celebrated with various events in Istanbul, as in the whole world, and said: "In this context; DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB have made an official application to our Governorship for Kadıköy Pier Square, and TKP for Kartal Square. As a result of the evaluations made by us, the said applications have been deemed appropriate and approved. Within the framework of the May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day celebrations; DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB will hold their celebration programs at Kadıköy Pier Square between 10:00-17:00, and TKP at Kartal Square between 12:00-19:00. Apart from these events, no May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day program will be held throughout our province."
"NO UNAUTHORIZED DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE ALLOWED"
In the statement, which stated that various measures have been taken to ensure that May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day is spent peacefully in Istanbul, the following expressions were used: "By our Governorship, in order for our Istanbul to spend May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day peacefully; in the districts of Beyoğlu, Şişli, Fatih and Beşiktaş, on Friday, May 1, 2026, between 00.01-23.59 hours, all kinds of rallies, press releases, open-air meetings, demonstration marches, tent pitching, stall opening, sit-in protests, signature campaigns, commemoration ceremonies, etc., have been prohibited due to the obligations arising from Article 11 (a) and (c) of Provincial Administration Law No. 5442 and Articles 17 and 19 of the Law on Meetings and Demonstration Marches No. 2911. Throughout our province, no unauthorized demonstrations, marches, protests or organizations will be allowed other than permitted rallies and celebrations. All necessary measures in this regard will be taken by our relevant units, and we request our citizens to be sensitive about such provocative actions, demonstrations, and other illegal activities."
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS FREE
On the other hand; on May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day and May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, public transportation vehicles will be free in 3 metropolitan cities. The said Presidential Decree was published in the Official Gazette. With the decision, on May 1 and May 19, Başkentray in Ankara, Marmaray in Istanbul and İZBAN in Izmir services will be free.
Also, in Istanbul, Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme Rail System Line and Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Arnavutköy Metro Line services will be free.