Istanbul’s Eid Street Feasts

Eid al‑Fitr services and celebrations in İstanbul coincided with the holiday’s first day on March 20, 2026, when authorities reported large turnout for morning prayers across the city. (hurriyetdailynews.com)) (hurriyetdailynews.com) Photographers captured packed congregations at major sites including the Grand Çamlıca Mosque and the courtyard of Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) during Eid prayers on March 20, 2026. (reutersconnect.com)) (reuters.com) Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality announced free public transport, expanded health services and the cleaning and maintenance of 44 historic mosques ahead of the Eid period to handle increased visitor flows. (turkiyetoday.com)) (turkiyetoday.com) Turkey’s tourism sector had aimed to exceed 65 million visitors and roughly €59 billion in revenue for the year, a target industry sources say has been hit by cancellations tied to regional conflict concerns. (en.tempo.co)) (tempo.co) Industry representatives told reporters that cancellations were concentrated in eastern and southeastern destinations and that bookings from Iranian visitors around Nowruz fell sharply this season. (en.tempo.co)) (tempo.co) The security backdrop included NATO air defences intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles that entered Turkish airspace in early March, and the U.S. Embassy’s March 2026 travel advisory that reiterated “do not travel” guidance for southeast Türkiye. (usnews.com)) (reuters.com / tr.usembassy.gov)