Turkish culture is taking center stage in San Francisco this weekend as the 3rd Annual San Francisco Turkish Art & Culture Festival opens at Embarcadero Plaza.
Organized by the Turkish American Association of California (CALTURKS), the festival runs September 12–13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days and is free and open to the public.
The two-day celebration brings together Turkish food, music, dance, traditional arts, handmade products and cultural performances while highlighting the Turkish-American community's presence in the San Francisco Bay Area.
48 Vendors Fill Embarcadero Plaza
This year's festival features 48 vendors offering a wide range of Turkish food, desserts, coffee, jewelry, textiles, handmade products, arts and crafts.
Visitors will be able to sample familiar Turkish favorites including döner, baklava and pastries while exploring cultural exhibits and products inspired by Türkiye.
Organizers are inviting visitors to spend the day at Embarcadero Plaza, combining food and shopping with live performances and cultural demonstrations.
The scale of this year's festival follows strong attendance in 2025, when organizers say more than 7,000 people visited the event.
Four Master Artisans Travel From Türkiye
One of the highlights of the 2026 festival is the arrival of four master artisans from Türkiye who will demonstrate traditional crafts directly to visitors.
Almula İdil Kılıç will introduce visitors to Kütahya tile art and its distinctive ceramic painting traditions.
Ertuğrul Üzümcü will demonstrate traditional Turkish coppersmithing, a craft preserved by generations of Anatolian artisans.
Fifth-generation craftsman Orhan Çakıroğlu will showcase Gaziantep's traditional handmade Yemeni footwear.
Süheyla Sarı Yoldaş, meanwhile, will demonstrate Hereke silk weaving, a Turkish textile tradition internationally known for its intricate craftsmanship.
Rather than displaying only finished works, the festival will allow visitors to watch the techniques behind the crafts and meet the artisans preserving them.
Kangal Dogs Bring Another Piece of Anatolia to San Francisco
Another unusual attraction at this year's festival will be Türkiye's famous Kangal dogs.
Award-winning Kangals will appear at Embarcadero Plaza, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about the history and characteristics of one of Türkiye's best-known native dog breeds.
The Kangal has traditionally been used as a livestock guardian across Anatolia and has become internationally recognized for its size, strength, loyalty and protective instincts.
Visitors will be able to meet the dogs and their handlers during the festival.
Turkish and Turkic Cultures Share the Stage
The celebration extends beyond Türkiye to include communities from across the wider Turkic world.
Performers representing Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uyghur traditions are scheduled to take part throughout the weekend.
The stage program includes Turkish music and folk dance as well as Whirling Dervish performances, darbuka and contemporary performances.
Organizers say the goal is to bring different communities together through a shared celebration of culture and heritage.
More Than Just a Festival for Turkish Americans
The event is organized by the Turkish American Association of California, a nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1975.
CALTURKS says its mission includes promoting Turkish culture and strengthening friendship, understanding and cultural exchange between communities.
Festival organizers emphasize that the event is not intended only for Turkish Americans.
“This festival belongs to everyone,” CALTURKS President Nalan Gungor Ozisik said while inviting Bay Area residents from all backgrounds to experience Turkish food, music, dance and traditional arts.
Turkish Culture in the Heart of San Francisco
The location also gives the event particular visibility.
Embarcadero Plaza sits in the heart of San Francisco, providing the Turkish-American community with a prominent venue to introduce Türkiye's culture to thousands of local residents and visitors.
From traditional Hereke weaving and Kütahya ceramics to Turkish cuisine, folk dancing and Kangal dogs, organizers are presenting different elements of Türkiye's living cultural heritage in one place.
The 3rd Annual San Francisco Turkish Festival runs Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Embarcadero Plaza.
Admission is free and the event is open to everyone.
