History of Istanbul in Timeline
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and its economic, cultural, and historical heart. Situated on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, it bridges Europe and Asia. Home to over 15 million people, Istanbul constitutes a significant portion of Turkey's population and holds the distinction of being among the most populous cities in both Europe and the world.
1881: Emergence of Telephone System
In 1881, a nascent telephone system began to emerge in Istanbul.
1903: Establishment of Beşiktaş J.K.
In 1903, Beşiktaş J.K. was established and is considered the oldest of Istanbul's sports clubs.
July 1908: Reopening of the Ottoman Parliament
On July 23, 1908, the Ottoman Parliament, which had been closed since 1878, was reopened, marking the beginning of the Second Constitutional Era.
1908: City Declared a Province
In 1908, Istanbul was declared a province with nine constituent districts, after the Ottoman constitution of 1876.
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.
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.
1909: First Telephone Exchange
In 1909, the first manual telephone exchange became operational in Istanbul, leading to the Ministry of Post and Telegraph becoming the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone.
1911: Italo-Turkish War
In 1911, the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912) plagued the ailing empire's capital.
1912: Balkan Wars
In 1912, the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) plagued the ailing empire's capital.
1913: Armenian Population Size
In 1913 the Armenian population stood at 164,000 in Istanbul
1913: Ottoman coup d'état
In 1913, the Ottoman coup d'état brought the regime of the Three Pashas.
1914: Silahtarağa Power Station Completed
In 1914, the Silahtarağa Power Station, a coal-fired power station along the Golden Horn, completed its first engine room and became Istanbul's sole source of electricity.
1914: Decline in Christian Population
In 1914, the city's Christian population began to decline due to Ottoman policies.
April 1915: Start of Armenian Genocide
On April 24, 1915, the deportation of Armenian intellectuals marked the start of the Armenian genocide during World War I.
October 1918: Signing of the Armistice of Mudros
On October 30, 1918, the Armistice of Mudros was signed.
November 13, 1918: Occupation of Constantinople Begins
On November 13, 1918, a French brigade entered Constantinople, marking the beginning of the Occupation of Constantinople.
1919: Greek Population Size
In 1919 the Greek population stood at 350,000 in Istanbul
1919: Turkish War of Independence
In 1919, the Turkish War of Independence started.
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, representatives of the Turkish government signed the Treaty of Sèvres.
1921: Taksim Stadium
In 1921, the Ottoman era Taksim Military Barracks was transformed into the Taksim Stadium.
November 1922: Abolition of Sultanate and Exile of Mehmed VI
In November 1922, specifically November 1, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara abolished the Sultanate. On November 17, the last Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed VI, left aboard the British warship HMS Malaya into exile.
1922: End of Ottoman Empire
In 1922, Istanbul served as an imperial capital during the Ottoman Empire until it ended.
1922: Topkapı Palace Becomes Public Property
In 1922, after the abolition of the monarchy, Topkapı Palace became public property.
July 1923: Signing of the Treaty of Lausanne
In July 1923, specifically July 24, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed.
October 1923: End of Occupation and Liberation Day of Istanbul
In October 1923, specifically October 4, the occupation of Constantinople ended with the departure of the last Allied forces. On October 6, Turkish forces entered the city, which has been marked as the "Liberation Day of Istanbul" ever since.
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.
1923: Population Exchange
In 1923, Istanbul's Greek population was exempted from the population exchange with Greece.
1923: Power Station Renovations
In 1923, following the founding of the Turkish Republic, the Silahtarağa Power Station underwent renovations to meet Istanbul's growing electricity demand, increasing its capacity to 23 megawatts.
1923: Development as a Turkish City
Since 1923, Istanbul has been developing as a Turkish city.
1924: Topkapı Palace Becomes a National Museum
In 1924, after extensive renovation, Topkapı Palace became one of Turkey's first national museums.
May 1926: Death of Mehmed VI
In May 1926, specifically May 16, the last Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed VI, died in Sanremo, Italy, where he had been exiled.
1927: First Radio Transmission
In 1927, Turkey's first radio transmission came from atop the Central Post Office in Eminönü.
1927: Decline in Christian Population
In 1927, the city's Christian population declined to 240,000 from 450,000 in 1914.
1930: Establishment of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
In 1930, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality was established.
1930: Name Change to Istanbul
In 1930, the city's name was officially changed to Istanbul, a Turkish rendering of the Greek phrase 'to the City', which had been used colloquially since the 11th century.
1930: Establishment of Istanbul Municipality
In 1930, the system of local government continued with the establishment of Istanbul Municipality.
1935: Hagia Sophia Reopened as a Museum
In 1935, the Hagia Sophia was reopened as a museum.
1940: Demolition of Taksim Stadium
In 1940, the Taksim Stadium was demolished for building Gezi Park.
1942: Wealth Tax on Non-Muslims
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 began experiencing rapid population growth which would increase tenfold by 2000.
1950: Jewish Population Size
In 1950, the Jewish population in Istanbul was 100,000.
1952: Silahtarağa Power Station Still Sole Source of Electricity
As of 1952, the Silahtarağa Power Station remained Istanbul's only source of electricity.
1952: Istanbul Sailing Club established
In 1952, Istanbul Sailing Club was established, hosting races and other sailing events on the waterways in and around Istanbul each year.
1955: Istanbul Pogrom
In 1955, the US-incited and state-sanctioned Istanbul pogrom led to the emigration of most of the remaining Greeks in Istanbul.
1956: Peak Capacity of Power Station
In 1956, the Silahtarağa Power Station reached its peak capacity of 120 megawatts.
1961: Printing of Hürriyet Daily News
In 1961, Hürriyet's English-language edition, Hürriyet Daily News, has been printed since 1961.
1964: Founding of TRT
In 1964, control of radio transmissions and radio stations came under the state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), which was founded in 1964.
1964: Mass Expulsions of Greeks
In 1964, further mass expulsions of Greeks took place.
1965: Mass Expulsions of Greeks
In 1965, further mass expulsions of Greeks took place.
1970: Establishment of Turkish Electrical Authority (TEK)
In 1970, the state-run Turkish Electrical Authority (TEK) was founded, briefly holding a monopoly on electricity generation and distribution.
1971: Boğaziçi University established
In 1971, Boğaziçi University (formerly the higher education section of Robert College until 1971) provide education in English as the primary foreign language
1973: Establishment of the Istanbul Festival
In 1973, the Istanbul Festival was established, showcasing a variety of art from Turkey and around the world.
1973: Annual Istanbul International Music Festival
The Istanbul International Music Festival has been held annually since 1973.
1982: Amendment to the Constitution
Private universities were not allowed in Turkey before the 1982 amendment to the constitution.
1982: Annual International Istanbul Film Festival
The International Istanbul Film Festival has been held annually since 1982.
1983: Power Station Shutdown
In 1983, the Silahtarağa Power Station reached the end of its economic life and was shut down.
1984: End of TEK Monopoly
In 1984, the Turkish Electrical Authority's (TEK) monopoly on electricity generation and distribution ended, splitting into TEAŞ and TEDAŞ.
1987: Opening of Galleria Ataköy
In 1987, Galleria Ataköy opened, ushering in the age of modern shopping malls in Turkey.
1987: Istanbul Biennial held every two years since 1987
Since 1987, the Istanbul Biennial has been held every two years. Initially aimed at showcasing Turkish visual art, it has expanded to include international artists and gained prestige.
1987: Istanbul Biennial Contemporary Art Exhibition
The Istanbul Biennial is a contemporary art exhibition that has been held biennially since 1987.
1990: End of TRT Monopoly
In 1990, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)'s monopoly on radio and television broadcasts ended.
1992: Founding of Koç University
Istanbul's first private university, Koç University, was founded as late as 1992.
1994: Erdoğan Elected Mayor
In 1994, Erdoğan's election as the mayor of Istanbul served as a launchpad for his political career.
1994: Arrival of GSM Cellular Networks
In 1994, GSM cellular networks arrived in Turkey, with Istanbul among the first cities to receive the service.
1994: Istanbul Festival becomes Istanbul International Music Festival
In 1994, the Istanbul Festival shifted its focus solely to music and dance and has since been known as the Istanbul International Music Festival.
1994: Annual Istanbul Jazz Festival
Since 1994, the annual Istanbul Jazz Festival has been held every year.
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
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
In 1999, The World Is Not Enough was filmed in Istanbul.
1999: Establishment of CNN Türk
In 1999, the American news channel CNN established the Turkish-language CNN Türk in Istanbul.
August 2000: F1 Powerboat World Championship Race
On August 12–13, 2000, Istanbul was a venue of the F1 Powerboat World Championship, with the race on the Bosporus strait.
2000: Significant Population Increase
By 2000, Istanbul's population had increased tenfold since 1950 due to internal and international migration.
2000: Number of Hospitals in Istanbul
In 2000, Istanbul had 137 hospitals, with 100 being private.
2000: Summer Olympics bid
Istanbul bid for the Summer Olympics in 2000 but ended unsuccessfully.
2000: Construction and Upgrading of Sports Facilities
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: EuroBasket 2001 Finals
In 2001, Abdi İpekçi Arena hosted the finals of EuroBasket 2001.
2001: Opening of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
In 2001, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport opened to relieve Atatürk Airport.
2002: Completion of Atatürk Olympic Stadium
In 2002, Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the largest multi-purpose stadium in Turkey, was completed as an IAAF first-class venue for track and field.
2002: Uzak Film
In 2002, the Turkish film Uzak, filmed in Istanbul, began to see international success.
2003: First Istanbul Pride
In 2003, the annual Istanbul Pride became the first gay pride event in a Muslim-majority country.
2004: Restructuring of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
In 2004, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality was restructured with the Metropolitan Municipalities Law.
2004: Summer Olympics bid
Istanbul bid for the Summer Olympics in 2004 but ended unsuccessfully.
2005: 2005 UEFA Champions League Final
In 2005, Atatürk Olympic Stadium hosted the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final.
2005: Opening of Istanbul Cevahir
In 2005, Istanbul Cevahir opened and has been one of the continent's largest shopping malls since.
2005: Privatization of Türk Telekom
In 2005, Türk Telekom was privatized, and postal services remained under the purview of the Post and Telegraph Organization (PTT).
2005: My Father and My Son Film
In 2005, the Turkish film My Father and My Son, filmed in Istanbul, began to see international success.
2005: Increase in Private Hospital Usage
In 2005, the percentage of outpatients using private hospitals in Istanbul began to increase.
2005: Hosted Formula One Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix in 2005.
2005: Annual Tulip Festival
Since 2005, an annual tulip festival has been held in Emirgan Park.
2006: Kanyon Wins Cityscape Architectural Review Award
In 2006, Kanyon won the Cityscape Architectural Review Award in the Commercial Built category.
2006: Modern Funicular Line Opens
In 2006, a modern funicular line between Taksim Square and Kabataş began running.
2007: Increase in Medical Tourism
Between 2007 and 2008, medical tourism to Turkey saw a 40 percent increase due to the high quality of healthcare, especially in private hospitals in Istanbul.
2007: Hosted Turkish Motorcycle Grand Prix
In 2007, Istanbul hosted the Turkish Motorcycle Grand Prix.
2007: Increase in Foreign Population
In 2007, Istanbul's foreign population with a residence permit was 43,000.
2008: Mission Istaanbul Film
In 2008, Mission Istaanbul was filmed in Istanbul.
2008: Summer Olympics bid
Istanbul bid for the Summer Olympics in 2008 but ended unsuccessfully.
2008: Increase in Medical Tourism
Medical tourism to Turkey, especially Istanbul, saw a 40% increase between 2007 and 2008.
June 2009: Last Race of the Powerboat P1 World Championship
On June 19–21, 2009, the last race of the Powerboat P1 World Championship on the Bosporus took place.
2009: Rise in Private Hospital Popularity
By 2009, the percentage of outpatients using private hospitals in Istanbul increased from 6 percent to 23 percent.
2009: New International Terminal at Sabiha Gökçen
In 2009, a new international terminal opened at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
2009: Introduction of Istanbulkart
In 2009, the contactless Istanbulkart was introduced for integrated fare payment across Istanbul's public transportation system.
2009: 2009 UEFA Cup Final
In 2009, Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Fenerbahçe's home field, hosted the UEFA Cup Final.
2010: European Capital of Culture
In 2010, Istanbul was the European Capital of Culture.
2010: 2010 FIBA World Championship Final
In 2010, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the final of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
2011: Passenger Traffic Increase
Between 2011 and 2012, Atatürk Airport experienced a 20.6 percent rise in passenger traffic.
2011: Opening of Türk Telekom Arena
In 2011, Türk Telekom Arena opened to replace Ali Sami Yen Stadium as Galatasaray's home turf.
2011: 2011-12 Euroleague
In 2011, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the 2011-12 Euroleague Final Fours.
2011: Traffic on Bosphorus Bridges
In 2011, the first and second bridges on the Bosphorus carried 400,000 vehicles each day.
2011: Canal Istanbul Project
In 2011, the then Prime Minister Erdoğan presented Canal Istanbul, a project to open a new strait between the Black and Marmara seas.
2011: Hosted Formula One Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix in 2011.
2011: Annual Istanbul Shopping Fest
The Istanbul Shopping Fest has been an annual shopping festival since 2011.
2012: Passenger Volume at Sabiha Gökçen
In 2012, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport handled 14.7 million passengers.
2012: 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships and Ülker Sports Arena Opening
In 2012, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 13,800-seat Ülker Sports Arena opened as the home court of Fenerbahçe's basketball teams.
2012: Haydarpaşa Terminal Closure
In 2012, the construction of Marmaray and the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway forced the closure of Haydarpaşa Terminal.
2012: Demolition and Replacement of Vulnerable Buildings
Since 2012, over 500,000 vulnerable buildings in Istanbul have been demolished and replaced due to the threat of major earthquakes.
2013: Anti-AKP Government Protests
In 2013, large-scale anti-AKP government protests began in Istanbul and spread throughout Turkey.
2013: Nationwide Protests
In 2013, the AKP government's decision to replace Taksim Gezi Park sparked a series of nationwide protests covering a wide range of issues.
2013: Inauguration of the Marmaray Tunnel
In 2013, the Marmaray Tunnel was inaugurated as the first rail connection between Thrace and Anatolia, running under the Bosphorus.
2014: First Published of Daily Sabah
In 2014, the English-language Daily Sabah was first published by Sabah.
2014: Mayoral Election
In 2014, the center-left opposition candidate in the mayoral election won an impressive 40% of the vote.
2015: Atatürk Airport Passenger Volume
In 2015, Istanbul Atatürk Airport handled 61.3 million passengers, making it the third-busiest airport in Europe.
2015: Parades Denied Permission
Since 2015, all types of parades at Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue have been denied permission by the AKP government due to security concerns.
August 2016: Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge Entered Service
On August 26, 2016, the Yavuz Sultan Selim (Third Bosphorus) Bridge, part of the O-7 motorway, entered service.
December 2016: Eurasia Tunnel Opened
On December 20, 2016, the dual-deck, 14.6-kilometer Eurasia Tunnel under the Bosphorus strait opened, providing another road crossing between the Asian and European sides of Turkey.
2016: Opening of Vodafone Park
In 2016, Vodafone Park, opened to replace BJK İnönü Stadium as the home turf of Beşiktaş.
2016: 2016-17 EuroLeague Final Fours
In 2016, the Sinan Erdem Dome hosted the 2016-17 EuroLeague Final Fours.
2017: Constitutional Referendum
In 2017, Istanbul voted 'No' in the constitutional referendum by 51.4% to 48.6%, marking the first government defeat in the city.
2018: Tourism Statistics
In 2018, 13.4 million foreign tourists visited the city, making Istanbul the world's fifth most-visited city in that year.
2018: Economic Data
In 2018, Istanbul had the eleventh-largest economy among the world's urban areas, contributing significantly to Turkey's industrial output, GDP, and tax revenues. The city's gross domestic product adjusted by PPP stood at US$537.507 billion.
2018: Opening of Istanbul Airport
In 2018, the new Istanbul Airport opened in the Arnavutköy district, northwest of the city center.
2018: Annual Teknofest
Teknofest, an annual festival of aviation, aerospace and technology, has been held since 2018.
March 2019: Full Marmaray Line Opened
On March 12, 2019, the full Marmaray intercontinental commuter rail line in Istanbul, officially named B1, opened from Halkalı to Gebze.
April 2019: Atatürk Airport Closure
On April 6, 2019, all scheduled commercial passenger flights were transferred from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport, marking the closure of Atatürk Airport for scheduled passenger flights.
2019: Survey on Birthplace
A 2019 survey found that only 36% of Istanbul's population was born in the province.
2019: Religiosity Survey
A 2019 survey study by KONDA examined the religiosity of the voting-age adults in Istanbul, revealing that 57% were religious and practising, while others were nonobservant or non-believers.
2019: Kurdish Population
According to a 2019 KONDA study, Kurds constituted around 17% of Istanbul's adult total population who were Turkish citizens.
2019: Number of Colleges and Universities
As of 2019, Istanbul has 61 colleges and universities, with more than 1.8 million students enrolled according to official figures.
2019: Air Pollution Levels
As of 2019, Istanbul's mean air quality remains at a level that affects the heart and lungs of healthy street bystanders during peak traffic hours, and it is one of the 10 worst cities for NO2.
2019: Student and School Statistics
As of 2019, excluding universities more than 3.1 million students attended 7,437 schools in Istanbul, about half of the schools being private schools.
2019: Dramatic Increase in Foreign Population
By 2019, Istanbul's foreign population with a residence permit had dramatically increased to 856,377.
2019: Greek Population Increase
Following Greek migration to the city for work in the 2010s, the Greek population rose to nearly 3,000 in 2019.
2019: Trend Towards CHP
Following the 2019 election, a trend towards the CHP persisted across the city.
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 of Atatürk Airport
In 2019, Istanbul Atatürk Airport closed to commercial flights.
2019: Local Elections
In 2019, Istanbul's local elections were highly significant, with Erdoğan stating that a failure in Istanbul would mean a failure for Turkey. The loss of the municipal budget by Erdoğan's party, AKP, had significant economic and political ramifications.
2019: 2019 UEFA Super Cup
In 2019, Vodafone Park hosted the 2019 UEFA Super Cup game.
2019: Service to Bucharest Resumes
In 2019, regular international rail service from Istanbul to Bucharest resumed after being interrupted for Marmaray construction.
2019: Opening of Istanbul Airport
In 2019, the new Istanbul Airport opened and the Turkish government has ambitious plans for an expansion of the city west and northwards on the European side in conjunction with it.
July 2020: Reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque
In July 2020, the Hagia Sophia was re-converted into a mosque.
2020: Population Data
According to 2020 TÜİK data, around 2.1 million people in a population of over 15.4 million have been registered in Istanbul.
2020: 2020 UEFA Champions League Final Relocation
In 2020, Atatürk Olympic Stadium was selected by the UEFA to host the Champions League Final games, but it was relocated to Lisbon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Canal Istanbul Status
In 2020, the Canal Istanbul project was still on Turkey's agenda, but without a clear date set.
2020: Demolition of Atatürk Airport Runway
In 2020, the demolition of the runway at Istanbul Atatürk Airport began.
2020: Hosted Formula One Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul Park racing circuit hosted the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix in 2020.
2020: Summer Olympics bid
Istanbul bid for the Summer Olympics in 2020 but ended unsuccessfully.
June 2021: Marine Mucilage Wave
In June 2021, a marine mucilage wave allegedly caused by water pollution spread to the Sea of Marmara.
June 2021: Announcement of the 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix
On June 25, 2021, it was announced that the 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix would take place on 3 October 2021.
October 2021: 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix
In October 2021, the 2021 F1 Turkish Grand Prix took place.
2021: 2021 UEFA Champions League Final Relocation
In 2021, Atatürk Olympic Stadium was selected by the UEFA to host the Champions League Final games, but it was relocated to Porto due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Carbon Dioxide Emissions
In 2021, road transport in Istanbul emitted an estimated 7 million tons of carbon dioxide.
2021: Jewish Population Size
In 2021, the Jewish population in Istanbul dropped to 15,000 due to emigration to Israel.
2022: Sea-Effect Snowstorms
In 2022, Sea-effect snowstorms with more than 30 centimetres (1 ft) of snowfall in Istanbul were highly disruptive to city infrastructure.
August 2023: Syrian Refugees in Istanbul
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: 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: Assessment of City Infrastructure
In 2023, ministry statements and geologist comments indicated that the city's infrastructure was in reasonably good shape, but many buildings were still vulnerable to collapse.
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, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, received 46.68%.
2023: Istanbul Financial Center
Since 2023, the Ataşehir district on the Asian side of the city is home to the Istanbul Financial Center (IFC).
2024: Road Network Length
As of 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: Low 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 believe the city is not properly prepared for an 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: Local Elections
In the 2024 local elections, Ekrem İmamoğlu was re-elected by a 12-point margin and the CHP won mayoralties in 26 of İstanbul's 39 districts.
April 2025: Earthquake Shakes Istanbul
On April 23, 2025, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 shook Istanbul and other areas, causing injuries and panic. It was felt as far as Tekirdağ, Yalova, Bursa, Balıkesir and İzmir.
2025: Istanbul Airport Completion
By 2025, once all phases are completed, Istanbul Airport is expected to have six sets of runways and be able to accommodate 200 million passengers a year.
2027: Istanbul to host the 2027 edition of the European Games
Istanbul will host the 2027 edition of the European Games.
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