Turkey’s most prestigious cinema event, the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, returns from 12 to 19 October 2026. One of the Mediterranean’s oldest film festivals - founded in 1963, predating Cannes by three years in Turkey - it draws filmmakers, industry professionals, and film lovers to Antalya for a week of Turkish and international screenings, panels, and the annual awards ceremony.
About the Festival
The Golden Orange (Altın Portakal) is the definitive platform for Turkish cinema. The competitive sections span feature films, documentaries, and shorts, with the Golden Orange Award - Turkey’s most coveted film prize - presented at a closing ceremony on 19 October.
Alongside the national competition, the festival runs an international programme with a focus on co-productions involving Turkish talent and films from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cinema traditions. Open-air screenings in Antalya’s Kaleiçi old quarter have become one of the festival’s defining images: films projected against the backdrop of Ottoman walls and the Roman-era Hadrian’s Gate.
The programme also includes masterclasses and Q&A sessions with directors, writers, and actors - many of whom are freely accessible to the public during the week.
Why Antalya in October
October is one of the best months to visit Antalya. Summer’s 38–40°C heat is gone: expect 22–26°C during the day, cool evenings, and a sea that stays at around 24°C - warm enough for swimming without the July crowds. Hotels in the city centre and old harbour cost significantly less than peak summer rates.
The main festival hub is Kaleiçi, the historic walled district, which is walkable from most central hotels. The closing ceremony and larger screenings take place at modern venues outside the old city, a 10–15 minute taxi ride from the centre.
Antalya Airport (AYT) has direct connections from Istanbul (50 minutes), Ankara, and most major European hubs. Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and SunExpress all serve the route.
More to See While You’re Here
The festival week offers a full itinerary beyond screenings: Kaleiçi itself rewards half a day of wandering - the Roman harbour, Hadrian’s Gate (2nd century AD), the Yivli Minaret, and the cliff-edge views over the Mediterranean justify the trip independently of the programme.
A short drive from the city, the ruins of Perge, Aspendos (with its extraordinary 2nd-century Roman theatre), and Termessos extend Antalya’s appeal considerably.
For full travel planning, see our Antalya guide covering the old city, beaches, and day trips. Our Turkey practical guide has everything on transport, visas, and costs, and our Turkey itineraries suggest multi-stop routes combining the festival with the Turkish coast and interior.