Countdown to the 19th Istanbul Jazz Festival

The 19th Istanbul Jazz Festival prepares to turn Istanbul into a jazz city and promises two unforgettable weeks to music-lovers with more than 50 concerts and 300 local and international artists in more than 20 different venues, reflecting the historical and cultural texture of Istanbul!

This year, the heart of jazz will beat in Istanbul between 3-19 July. The 19th Istanbul Jazz Festival invites you to a 16-days music experience in one of the most glorious cities of the world. Istanbul will host legendary names of jazz and contemporary music such as Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette, Morrissey, Erykah Badu, Antony and the Johnsons, Esperanza Spalding, Marcus Miller, Okay Temiz, Burhan Öçal, Hüsnü Şenlendirici, İmer Demirer, Bilal Karaman, Lyambiko, Ernest Ranglin, Monty Alexander, Caro Emerald, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and many more.

With the 19th Istanbul Jazz Festival, the enthusiasm of music will spread around different parts of the city for 16 days. The festival offers more than 50 concerts in different venues, museums, gardens, major squares and open air theatres of Istanbul, including Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre, Archaeological Museum, Istanbul Modern, Salon İKSV, Bilgi University santralistanbul Kıyı Amfi, The Marmara Esma Sultan, Haliç Congress Center and Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum.

For festival line up and further information, please visit: caz.iksv.org/en

• Istanbul, the meeting point of cultures, civilizations and continents for centuries, is one of the most multicultural metropolises of the world today.
• Istanbul is at the center of the second-largest urban area in Europe and among the world's largest cities by population within city limits.
• With its natural beauty, historical significance and cultural events, Istanbul has welcomed 2.424.400 tourists so far in 2012 and every year welcomes more tourists than previous years.
• Istanbul was the European Capital of Culture in 2010 and was the world's tenth-most popular tourist destination with seven million foreign visitors.
• One of the busiest airports in Europe, Istanbul Ataturk International Airport handles around 28.5 million passengers per year. 
• It is very easy to visit Istanbul from all over the world. Citizens of UN countries do not need a visa when they are entering Turkey. USA, Canada and UK citizens can get their visas at the customs.
• With its nearly 400 registered hotels, 65 museums and palaces, 64 mosques and 49 churches as well as hundreds of restaurants, clubs and thousands of star names hosted every year, Istanbul is a cultural hub and a glamorous music destination!