International Eskişehir Yunus Emre Literature Festival Concludes After Four Days

Organized for the first time by the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality within the scope of the 2026 Eskişehir Year events with the theme of "Joy", the International Eskişehir Yunus Emre Literature Festival concluded after four days full of panels, poetry, and musical recitals.

Closing at Haller Youth Center

The final day programs of the festival, held for the first time this year within the framework of the 2026 Eskişehir Year events, took place at the Frigya Hall of the Haller Youth Center. Throughout the day, literature enthusiasts had the opportunity to come together with prominent names from the worlds of poetry, music, and novels.

Poetry and Music Encounter

In the first event of the program, Gülçin Elif Yücel and Ertan Bilgi took the stage in a recital titled "Joy from Poetry to Song". At the event where poetry and music met, verses came to life with melodies, and participants experienced pleasant moments.

Joy of the Novel Panel

In another event of the festival, beloved authors of the literary world, Ayfer Tunç and Murat Gülsoy, met with literature enthusiasts in a panel titled "Joy of the Novel". The dialogues held on the world of the novel, writing experiences, and literature drew great interest.

Joy of Eskişehir and Mayors

One of the most special gatherings of the final day of the festival was the panel titled "Joy of Eskişehir". Moderated by festival director and poet Haydar Ergülen, the program brought together Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce and district mayors.

Local Government and City Culture

Along with Mayor Ünlüce, Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt, Sivrihisar Mayor Habil Dökmeci, Çifteler Mayor Zehra Konakcı, Seyitgazi Mayor Uğur Tepe, Alpu Mayor Gürbüz Güller, Mihalıççık Mayor Haydar Çorum, and Mahmudiye Mayor İshak Gündoğan shared their local government experiences.

Values of the City and Future Vision

Drawing attention to Eskişehir's calm, peaceful, and tranquil structure, poet Haydar Ergülen stated that the city's joy is strengthened by the legacy of symbolic figures such as Yunus Emre and Nasreddin Hodja. Mayor Ünlüce also emphasized that municipalism is not only about physical services, and that cultural and artistic events provide people with breathing room.