Live Music in Konya

Mevlevi music, developed within the Sufi teachings of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi and practiced in Konya for over 700 years, gives this central Anatolian city a live music identity unlike anywhere else in Turkey. The Sema ceremony, recognized by UNESCO in 2005 as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity, anchors the calendar at the Mevlana Cultural Center, where Saturday night performances draw both devoted audiences and curious newcomers to its 2,650-seat hall. Two major annual events, the Konya Mystic Music Festival each September and the Mevlana Festival culminating on December 17th, pull international Sufi and mystical music acts into the city each year. Beyond the ceremonial circuit, venues like Maya Bistro, Nazar Birahanesi, Fiskos Bar, and the Dedeman Konya Roof Bar keep a steady calendar of live performances running, with Konya folk music and its characteristic bağlama sitting alongside more contemporary acts.