History of Istanbul in Timeline

Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and its economic, cultural, and historical heart. Located on both the European and Asian sides of the Bosporus Strait, it boasts a population exceeding 15 million, making it the most populous city in Europe and the 17th largest worldwide. This vibrant metropolis accounts for 19% of Turkey's total population.

1903: Beşiktaş J.K. Established

In 1903, Beşiktaş J.K. was established and is considered the oldest sports club in Turkey.

July 1908: Reopening of the Ottoman Parliament

On July 23, 1908, the Ottoman Parliament, which had been closed since February 14, 1878, was reopened, marking the beginning of the Second Constitutional Era.

October 1908: Austria-Hungary Annexed Bosnia and Bulgaria Declared Independence

On October 5, 1908, the civil strife and political uncertainties in the Ottoman Empire during the months after the Young Turk Revolution encouraged Austria-Hungary to annex Bosnia and Bulgaria to declare its independence in a jointly coordinated move.

1908: Haydarpaşa Terminal opened

In 1908, Istanbul's Haydarpaşa Terminal opened, serving as the western terminus of the Baghdad Railway and an extension of the Hejaz Railway.

1908: City Declared a Province

Laws enacted after the Ottoman constitution of 1876 aimed to expand the local government structure across the city, imitating the twenty arrondissements of Paris, but they were not fully implemented until 1908 when the city was declared a province with nine constituent districts.

1909: First manual telephone exchange became operational

In 1909, Istanbul's first manual telephone exchange became operational, which led to the Ministry of Post and Telegraph becoming the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone.

1909: Deposition of Sultan Abdul Hamid II

In 1909, Sultan Abdul Hamid II was deposed following the counter-revolution attempt known as the 31 March incident.

1911: Italo-Turkish War

The Italo-Turkish War took place from 1911 to 1912, which plagued the ailing Ottoman Empire's capital.

1912: Balkan Wars

The Balkan Wars took place from 1912 to 1913, which plagued the ailing Ottoman Empire's capital.

1913: Ottoman coup d'état

In 1913 the Ottoman coup d'état, which brought the regime of the Three Pashas.

1913: Armenian Population Peak

In 1913, the Armenian population in Istanbul peaked at 164,000.

1914: Decline in Christian Population Begins

Beginning in 1914, due to Ottoman and Turkish policies of Turkification and ethnic cleansing, the city's Christian population declined from 450,000.

1914: Silahtarağa Power Station Begins Operation

In 1914, the Silahtarağa Power Station began operation as the sole source of Istanbul's electricity.

April 1915: Deportation of Armenian Intellectuals

On April 24, 1915, the deportation of Armenian intellectuals was among the major events which marked the start of the Armenian genocide during WWI.

October 1918: Signing of the Armistice of Mudros

On October 30, 1918, the Armistice of Mudros was signed.

November 1918: Allied Occupation of Constantinople

On November 13, 1918, the Allies occupied Constantinople.

1919: Historical Greek Population

In 1919, the Greek population in Istanbul stood at 350,000.

1919: Turkish War of Independence

The Turkish War of Independence began in 1919 and lasted until 1922.

April 1920: Dissolution of Ottoman Parliament

On April 11, 1920, the Ottoman Parliament was dissolved by the Allies.

August 1920: Signing of the Treaty of Sèvres

On August 10, 1920, the Ottoman delegation led by Damat Ferid Pasha was forced to sign the Treaty of Sèvres.

1921: Taksim Stadium

In 1921 the Ottoman era Taksim Military Barracks was transformed into the Taksim Stadium

November 1922: Abolishment of the Sultanate

On November 1, 1922, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara abolished the Sultanate, and the last Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed VI, was declared persona non grata.

1922: Abolition of Monarchy

In 1922, Topkapı Palace became public property following the abolition of monarchy.

1922: End of Ottoman Empire

In 1922, the Ottoman Empire rule ended after almost 1600 years.

July 1923: Treaty of Lausanne Signed

On July 24, 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed.

October 1923: Establishment of the Turkish Republic

On October 29, 1923, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey declared the establishment of the Turkish Republic, with Ankara as its capital. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became the Republic's first President.

October 1923: End of Allied Occupation

On October 4, 1923, the occupation of Constantinople ended with the departure of the last forces of the Allies from the city. Turkish forces entered the city on October 6, 1923 and this day has been commemorated annually since as the "Liberation Day of Istanbul".

1923: Population Exchange Exemption

In 1923, Istanbul's Greek population was exempted from the population exchange with Greece.

1923: Ankara Replaced Istanbul as Capital

In 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence, Ankara replaced Istanbul as the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey.

1923: Silahtarağa Power Station Capacity

In 1923, the capacity of the Silahtarağa Power Station was 23 megawatts.

1923: Development as a Turkish City

Since 1923, Istanbul has developed as a Turkish city, containing many ancient, Roman, Byzantine, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish monuments.

1924: Topkapı Palace Became a National Museum

In 1924, after extensive renovation, Topkapı Palace became one of Turkey's first national museums.

May 1926: Death of Mehmed VI

On May 16, 1926, Mehmed VI, the last Ottoman Sultan, died in Sanremo, Italy.

1927: Decline in Christian Population Continues

By 1927, due to Ottoman and Turkish policies of Turkification and ethnic cleansing, the city's Christian population had declined to 240,000.

1927: First Radio Broadcast in Turkey

In 1927, Turkey's first radio transmission came from atop the Central Post Office in Eminönü.

1930: Establishment of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Established in 1930, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is the main citywide local government authority.

1930: Name Changed to Istanbul

In 1930, the city's name was officially changed to Istanbul, which is the Turkish rendering of εἰς τὴν Πόλιν eis tḕn Pólin 'to the City', the appellation Greek speakers had used since the 11th century to colloquially refer to the city.

1930: Establishment of Istanbul Municipality

Şehremaneti and its successors were disbanded by the Turkish Revolution, the system itself continued with the establishment of Istanbul Municipality in 1930.

1935: Hagia Sophia Reopened as Museum

In 1935, due to its historical significance, the Hagia Sophia was reopened as a museum.

1940: Demolishing of Taksim Stadium

In 1940 the Taksim Stadium was demolished for building Gezi Park

1942: Wealth Tax Assessed

In 1942, a wealth tax assessed mainly on non-Muslims led to the transfer or liquidation of many businesses owned by religious minorities.

1950: Rapid Population Growth Begins

In 1950, Istanbul started experiencing rapid population growth, which would increase tenfold by 2000.

1950: Jewish Population

In 1950, the Jewish population in Istanbul was 100,000.

1952: Silahtarağa Power Station Remains Sole Electricity Source

As of 1952, the Silahtarağa Power Station was still the sole source of Istanbul's electricity.

1952: Istanbul Sailing Club Established

In 1952, Istanbul Sailing Club was established, hosting races and other sailing events each year.

1955: Anti-Greek Pogrom

In 1955, an anti-Greek pogrom prompted thousands of Greeks to leave Istanbul.

1956: Silahtarağa Power Station Peak Capacity

In 1956, the capacity of the Silahtarağa Power Station reached a peak of 120 megawatts.

1961: Hürriyet Daily News Printed

In 1961, Hürriyet's English-language edition, Hürriyet Daily News, has been printed since.

1963: From Russia with Love Filmed in Istanbul

In 1963, Istanbul served as a backdrop for the foreign film, From Russia with Love.

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1964: Topkapi Filmed in Istanbul

In 1964, Istanbul served as a backdrop for the foreign film, Topkapi.

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1964: TRT Monopoly on Broadcasts

In 1964, the state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) was founded and held a monopoly on radio and television broadcasts.

1964: Mass Expulsions of Greeks

In 1964–1965, further mass expulsions of Greeks took place.

1965: Mass Expulsions of Greeks

In 1964–1965, further mass expulsions of Greeks took place.

1970: Turkish Electrical Authority (TEK) Founded

In 1970, the state-run Turkish Electrical Authority (TEK) was founded and briefly held a monopoly on the generation and distribution of electricity.

1971: Boğaziçi University Established

In 1971, Boğaziçi University was established, formerly the higher education section of Robert College.

1973: Istanbul Festival Established

In 1973, the Istanbul Festival was established to showcase art from Turkey and around the world.

1973: Istanbul International Music Festival Begins

In 1973, the Istanbul International Music Festival was first held and has been held annually ever since.

1982: Amendment to Constitution

In 1982, an amendment to the constitution allowed private universities in Turkey. Before this private universities were not allowed.

1982: International Istanbul Film Festival Begins

In 1982, the International Istanbul Film Festival was first held and has been held annually ever since.

1983: Silahtarağa Power Station Shut Down

In 1983, the Silahtarağa Power Station reached the end of its economic life and shut down.

1984: End of TEK Monopoly

In 1984, the Turkish Electrical Authority's (TEK) monopoly ended, and it competed with private electric utilities.

1987: Galleria Ataköy Opens

In 1987, Galleria Ataköy opened, ushering in the age of modern shopping malls in Turkey.

1987: Istanbul Biennial Begins

In 1987, the Istanbul Biennial, a contemporary art exhibition, was first held, and has been held biennially ever since.

1990: End of TRT Monopoly

In 1990, the monopoly on radio and television broadcasts held by the TRT ended.

1992: Koç University Founded

In 1992, Koç University, Istanbul's first private university, was founded.

1994: GSM cellular networks arrived in Turkey

In 1994, GSM cellular networks arrived in Turkey, with Istanbul being among the first cities to receive the service.

1994: Istanbul Jazz Festival Begins

In 1994, the annual Istanbul Jazz Festival was first held, and has continued every year since.

1994: Istanbul International Music Festival

Since 1994, the Istanbul Festival has been known as the Istanbul International Music Festival, with its focus now solely on music and dance.

1994: Erdoğan Elected Mayor

The election of Erdoğan as mayor of Istanbul in 1994 served as his launchpad.

1995: Akmerkez Awarded "Europe's Best"

In 1995, Akmerkez was awarded the title of "Europe's best" shopping mall by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

1995: Borsa Istanbul Headquarters Move

In 1995, Borsa Istanbul moved its headquarters to İstinye, near Maslak.

1995: Türk Telekom split from the Ministry

In 1995, Türk Telekom split from the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone.

1996: Akmerkez Awarded "World's Best"

In 1996, Akmerkez was awarded the title of "World's best" shopping mall by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

1999: The World Is Not Enough Filmed in Istanbul

In 1999, Istanbul served as a backdrop for the foreign film, The World Is Not Enough.

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1999: CNN Türk Established

In 1999, the American news channel CNN established the Turkish-language CNN Türk in Istanbul.

August 2000: F1 Powerboat World Championship Race

In August 2000, Istanbul hosted an F1 Powerboat World Championship race on the Bosporus strait.

2000: End of Rapid Population Growth Period

By 2000, Istanbul's population had increased tenfold since 1950 due to internal and international migration.

2000: Istanbul had 137 hospitals

In 2000, Istanbul had a total of 137 hospitals, with 100 of them being private.

2000: Olympic Bid Unsuccessful

In 2000, Istanbul's bid for the Summer Olympics ended unsuccessfully.

2000: Sports facilities upgraded

Since 2000, many of Istanbul's sports facilities have been built or upgraded to bolster the city's bids for the Summer Olympic Games.

2001: Sabiha Gökçen International Airport opened

In 2001, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport opened on the Asian side of Istanbul to relieve Atatürk Airport.

2001: Abdi İpekçi Arena Hosts EuroBasket Final

In 2001, the Abdi İpekçi Arena hosted the finals of EuroBasket.

2002: Uzak Film Success

In 2002, Uzak, filmed in Istanbul, achieved substantial international success.

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2002: Atatürk Olympic Stadium Completed

In 2002, the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the largest multi-purpose stadium in Turkey, was completed as an IAAF first-class venue for track and field.

2003: Rock'n Coke Festival Begins

In 2003, Rock'n Coke, sponsored by Coca-Cola, began. It became the biggest open-air rock festival in Turkey.

2003: First Istanbul Pride

In 2003, the annual Istanbul Pride became the first gay pride event in a Muslim-majority country.

2004: Olympic Bid Unsuccessful

In 2004, Istanbul's bid for the Summer Olympics ended unsuccessfully.

2004: Restructuring of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

In 2004, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality was restructured with the Metropolitan Municipalities Law.

2005: Istanbul Cevahir Opens

In 2005, Istanbul Cevahir opened and became one of the largest shopping malls in Europe.

2005: Istanbul Park Hosts Several Racing Events

In 2005, Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix, the World Touring Car Championship and the European Le Mans Series.

2005: My Father and My Son

In 2005, My Father and My Son, filmed in Istanbul, achieved substantial international success.

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2005: Türk Telekom privatized

In 2005, Türk Telekom, which had split from the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone in 1995, was privatized.

2005: Atatürk Olympic Stadium Hosts UEFA Champions League Final

In 2005, the Atatürk Olympic Stadium hosted the UEFA Champions League Final.

2005: Increase in outpatients using private hospitals

In 2005, the percentage of outpatients using private hospitals increased from 6 percent.

2005: Annual Tulip Festival

Since 2005, an annual tulip festival is held in Emirgan Park.

2006: Istanbul Park Hosts Several Racing Events

In 2006, Istanbul Park was a venue of the World Touring Car Championship and the European Le Mans Series.

2006: Kanyon Wins Cityscape Architectural Review Award

In 2006, Kanyon won the Cityscape Architectural Review Award in the Commercial Built category.

2006: Modern funicular began running

In 2006, a modern funicular began operating between Taksim Square and Kabataş.

2007: Turkish Motorcycle Grand Prix

Between 2005 and 2007, Istanbul Park hosted the Turkish Motorcycle Grand Prix.

2007: Foreign Population

In 2007, Istanbul's foreign population with a residence permit was 43,000.

2007: Medical tourism upsurge

In 2007, medical tourism to Turkey saw an upsurge, attributed to the high quality of healthcare, especially in private hospitals.

2008: Mission Istaanbul Filmed in Istanbul

In 2008, Istanbul served as a backdrop for the foreign film, Mission Istaanbul.

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2008: Olympic Bid Unsuccessful

In 2008, Istanbul's bid for the Summer Olympics ended unsuccessfully.

2008: Medical tourism upsurge

In 2008, medical tourism to Turkey experienced a 40 percent increase compared to the previous year, boosted by the high quality of healthcare, particularly in private hospitals.

June 2009: Powerboat P1 World Championship Race

In June 2009, the last race of the Powerboat P1 World Championship took place on the Bosporus.

2009: Increase in outpatients using private hospitals

By 2009, the percentage of outpatients using private hospitals increased to 23 percent, marking a significant rise from previous years.

2009: New international terminal opening at Sabiha Gökçen

In 2009, a new international terminal opened at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, contributing to its rapid growth in popularity.

2009: Istanbulkart introduced

In 2009, the contactless Istanbulkart was introduced for integrated fare payments across Istanbul's public transportation modes.

2009: Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium Hosts UEFA Cup Final

In 2009, the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Fenerbahçe's home field, hosted the UEFA Cup Final three years after its completion.

2010: European Capital of Culture

In 2010, Istanbul was the European Capital of Culture.

2010: Sinan Erdem Dome Hosts FIBA World Championship Final

In 2010, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the final of the FIBA World Championship.

2011: Atatürk experienced growth

Between 2011 and 2012 Atatürk experienced a 20.6 percent rise in passenger traffic.

2011: Türk Telekom Arena Opens

In 2011, Türk Telekom Arena opened to replace Ali Sami Yen Stadium as Galatasaray's home turf.

2011: Istanbul Shopping Fest Begins

In 2011, the Istanbul Shopping Fest was first held and has been held annually ever since.

2011: Sinan Erdem Dome Hosts Euroleague Final Four

In 2011, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the Euroleague Final Four.

2011: Bosphorus bridges traffic volume

In 2011, the first and second bridges on the Bosphorus carried 400,000 vehicles each day.

2011: Canal Istanbul Project Presented

In 2011, the then Prime Minister Erdoğan presented Canal Istanbul, a project to open a new strait between the Black and Marmara seas.

2011: Istanbul Park Hosts Formula One Turkish Grand Prix

In the 2011 season, Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix.

2012: Sabiha Gökçen passenger count

In 2012, Sabiha Gökçen Airport handled 14.7 million passengers.

2012: Haydarpaşa Terminal closed

In 2012, the Haydarpaşa Terminal was forced to close due to the construction of Marmaray and the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway.

2012: Sinan Erdem Dome Hosts IAAF World Indoor Championships

In 2012, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

2012: Demolition and Replacement of Buildings

Since 2012, over 500,000 vulnerable buildings have been demolished and replaced due to the threat of major earthquakes.

2013: Anti-AKP Government Protests Begin

In 2013, large-scale anti-AKP government protests began in İstanbul and spread throughout the nation, marking a shift away from the government's right-wing ideology.

2013: Gezi Park Protests

In 2013, the AKP government's decision to replace Taksim Gezi Park with a replica of the Ottoman era Taksim Military Barracks sparked a series of nationwide protests covering a wide range of issues.

2013: Marmaray Tunnel inaugurated

In 2013, the Marmaray Tunnel was inaugurated, becoming the first rail connection under the Bosphorus, linking Thrace and Anatolia.

2013: Rock'n Coke Festival Ends

In 2013, the Rock'n Coke festival, which began in 2003, was held for the last time.

2014: Daily Sabah First Published

In 2014, the English-language Daily Sabah, first published by Sabah, overtook Hürriyet Daily News in circulation.

2014: Mayoral Election Shows Opposition Strength

In the 2014 mayoral election, the center-left opposition candidate garnered an impressive 40% of the vote, signaling a change in the political landscape, although they did not win.

2015: Atatürk Airport passenger count

In 2015, Atatürk Airport handled 61.3 million passengers, making it the third-busiest airport in Europe and the 18th-busiest in the world for that year.

2015: Parades Banned

Since 2015, all types of parades at Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue have been denied permission by the AKP government, citing security concerns.

August 2016: Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge entered service

On August 26, 2016, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (Third Bosphorus Bridge) entered service, as part of the O-7 motorway.

December 2016: Eurasia Tunnel entered service

On December 20, 2016, the Eurasia Tunnel, a dual-deck tunnel under the Bosphorus strait, opened for motor vehicle traffic between the Asian and European sides of Turkey.

2016: Vodafone Park Opens

In 2016, Vodafone Park opened to replace BJK İnönü Stadium as the home turf of Beşiktaş.

2016: Sinan Erdem Dome Hosts EuroLeague Final Four

In 2016, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the EuroLeague Final Four.

2017: Istanbul Votes "No" in Constitutional Referendum

In the 2017 constitutional referendum, Istanbul voted 'No' with 51.4% against 48.6%, marking the first government defeat in the city, despite the AKP winning the vote nationally.

2018: Tourism in Istanbul

In 2018, 13.4 million foreign tourists visited Istanbul, making it the world's fifth most-visited city in that year.

2018: Istanbul's Economic Standing

In 2018, Istanbul had the eleventh-largest economy among the world's urban areas, accounting for a significant portion of Turkey's economic activity. The city's gross domestic product adjusted by PPP stood at US$537.507 billion in 2018.

2018: Teknofest Begins

In 2018, Teknofest, an annual festival of aviation, aerospace, and technology, was first held.

2018: Istanbul Airport opened

In 2018, the new Istanbul Airport opened in the Arnavutköy district, northwest of the city center.

March 2019: Full Marmaray line opened

On March 12, 2019, the full Marmaray line, officially named B1, opened, connecting Halkalı on the European side to Gebze on the Asian side.

April 2019: All flights transferred from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport

On April 6, 2019, all scheduled commercial passenger flights were transferred from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport, following the closure of Atatürk Airport for scheduled passenger flights. The IATA code IST was also transferred to the new airport.

August 2019: Syrian Refugees in Istanbul

As of August 2019, the number of refugees of the Syrian Civil War in Turkey residing in Istanbul was estimated to be around 1 million.

2019: Survey of Istanbul's Population Origins

A 2019 survey found that only 36% of Istanbul's population was born in the province. The vast majority of the residents ultimately originate from Anatolian provinces, especially those in the Black Sea, Central and Eastern Anatolia regions due to internal migration since the 1950s.

2019: Religiosity Survey

A 2019 survey study by KONDA that examined the religiosity of the voting-age adults in Istanbul showed that 57% of the surveyed had a religion and were trying to practise its requirements.

2019: Kurdish Population Study

According to a 2019 KONDA study, Kurds constituted around 17% of Istanbul's adult total population who were Turkish citizens.

2019: Air Pollution Levels

As of 2019 the city's mean air quality remains at a level so as to affect the heart and lungs of healthy street bystanders during peak traffic hours, and almost 200 days of pollution were measured by the air pollution sensors at Sultangazi, Mecidiyeköy, Alibeyköy and Kağıthane.

2019: Istanbul University Statistics

As of 2019, Istanbul has 61 colleges and universities, with more than 1.8 million students enrolled according to official figures.

2019: Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Population

At the end of 2019, the population of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality was estimated to be 15,519,267, hosting 19 percent of the country's population. 64.4% of the residents live on the European side and 35.6% on the Asian side.

2019: Increase in Foreign Population

By 2019, Istanbul's foreign population with a residence permit had dramatically increased to 856,377.

2019: CHP Trend Persists

Following the 2019 election, a trend towards the CHP has persisted across the city.

2019: Local Election and Re-run

In 2019 local elections, Binali Yıldırım was narrowly defeated by Ekrem İmamoğlu, however, the Supreme Electoral Council controversially annulled the elections due to AKP's claim of electoral fraud. In the re-run, İmamoğlu widened his margin of victory.

2019: Ambarlı Port Capacity

In 2019, Ambarlı, on the western edge of the urban center, had an annual capacity of 3,104,882 TEUs, making it the third-largest cargo terminal in the Mediterranean basin.

2019: Closure to commercial flights

In 2019, Istanbul Atatürk Airport closed to commercial flights.

2019: Vodafone Park Hosts UEFA Super Cup Game

In 2019, Vodafone Park hosted the UEFA Super Cup game.

2019: Trade Figures

In 2019, companies based in Istanbul produced exports worth $83.66 billion and received imports totaling $128.34 billion; these figures were equivalent to 47 percent and 61 percent, respectively, of the national totals.

2019: Bucharest Service Started Running Again

In 2019, regular rail service to Bucharest was restored after being interrupted for Marmaray construction.

2019: Opening of Istanbul Airport

In 2019, the new Istanbul Airport opened, in conjunction with an expansion of the city west and northwards on the European side.

July 2020: Hagia Sophia Re-converted into a Mosque

In July 2020, the Hagia Sophia was re-converted into a mosque.

2020: TÜİK Data on Registered Population

According to 2020 TÜİK data, around 2.1 million people in a population of over 15.4 million have been registered in Istanbul.

2020: Olympic Bid Unsuccessful

In 2020, Istanbul's bid for the Summer Olympics ended unsuccessfully.

2020: UEFA Champions League Final Relocated

In 2020, the UEFA Champions League Final, originally selected to be held at Atatürk Olympic Stadium, was relocated to Lisbon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Demolition of runway began

In 2020, the demolition of the runway at Istanbul Atatürk Airport began.

2020: Istanbul Park Hosts Formula One Turkish Grand Prix

In the 2020 season, Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix.

2020: Canal Istanbul Still on Agenda

While the Canal Istanbul project was still on Turkey's agenda in 2020, there has not been a clear date set for it.

June 2021: Marine Mucilage Wave

In June 2021, a marine mucilage wave allegedly caused by water pollution spread to Sea of Marmara.

June 2021: 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix Announcement

On June 25, 2021, it was announced that the 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix will take place on October 3, 2021 after being initially cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2021: 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix

In October 2021, Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix.

2021: Decline of Jewish Population

By 2021, the Jewish population in Istanbul had dropped to 15,000, largely due to emigration to Israel.

2021: Road transport carbon dioxide emissions

In 2021, road transport in Istanbul emitted an estimated 7 million tons of carbon dioxide.

2021: UEFA Champions League Final Relocated

In 2021, the UEFA Champions League Final, originally selected to be held at Atatürk Olympic Stadium, was relocated to Porto due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Heavy Snowfall

In 2022, a sea-effect snowstorm with more than 30 centimetres (1 ft) of snowfall disrupted the city infrastructure.

August 2023: Refugee Population

As of August 2023, there were more than 530,000 refugees of the Syrian civil war in Istanbul, the highest number in any Turkish city.

2023: Infrastructure Status

According to ministry statements and geologist comments made in 2023, the city's infrastructure was in reasonably good shape, however, over half a million flats were still vulnerable to collapse.

2023: Most Visited City in the World

In 2023, Istanbul surpassed London and Dubai to become the most visited city in the world, with more than 20 million foreign visitors.

2023: Presidential Election Results

In the 2023 presidential election, the CHP candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, received 48.56% of the city's vote, while the incumbent president and AKP candidate, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, received 46.68%.

2023: Istanbul Financial Center (IFC)

Since 2023, the Ataşehir district on the Asian side of the city is home to the Istanbul Financial Center (IFC), where the new headquarters of the state-owned Turkish banks, including the Turkish Central Bank, are located.

2024: Seismic Standards and Earthquake Preparedness

As of 2024, most buildings in Istanbul were built to a low seismic standard in the 20th century, and residents think the city is not properly prepared for the earthquake.

2024: Second Most Visited City in the World

In 2024, Euromonitor International ranked Istanbul as the second most visited city in the world, welcoming 23 million visitors.

2024: Istanbul's motorway and state highway network lengths

In 2024, Istanbul Province's network of toll roads is 543 km and the state highways network is 353 km, totaling 896 km of expressway roads.

2024: Ekrem İmamoğlu Re-elected

In the 2024 local elections, Ekrem İmamoğlu was re-elected by a 12-point margin, winning 51.15% of the vote. The CHP also won mayoralties in 26 of İstanbul's 39 districts.

2025: Istanbul Airport completion

By 2025, once all phases are completed, Istanbul Airport will have six sets of runways, 16 taxiways, and the capacity to accommodate 200 million passengers annually.