PRESS RELEASE | OCTOBER 2026
HARVEST SEASON IN DALYAN: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL POMEGRANATE FESTIVAL BEGINS
Taking place from 8–11 October, the 1st International Dalyan Pomegranate Festival will invite visitors to discover Dalyan during harvest season with a four-day programme spanning pomegranate harvesting, gastronomy, arts and culture, and experiences across the region.
Dalyan, in the Ortaca district of Muğla, will host the first International Dalyan Pomegranate Festival from 8–11 October 2026. The festival will shine a spotlight on one of the region’s most prominent agricultural products, exploring the pomegranate through its many connections to local production, gastronomy, tourism and the regional economy.
Organised under the leadership of the Dalyan Tourism Promotion, Social Development and Education Foundation (TUSEV), with the support of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Ortaca Municipality, Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MUTSO), the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), Şef Mavi Fethiye Professional Chefs Association, and Ortaca Women’s Initiative Production and Business Cooperative, the festival will bring together local producers, cooperatives, gastronomy and tourism professionals, representatives from the arts and culture sector, and visitors.
The programme will feature pomegranate harvesting, local produce stalls, culinary events, panels, talks and workshops. Concerts, folk dance performances, children’s activities and photography competitions will also form part of the four-day programme.
A STORY OF PRODUCTION BEYOND THE POMEGRANATE
The festival is about more than simply promoting the pomegranate. Throughout the event, discussions will explore how the fruit is grown, its role in the regional economy, its potential to reach new markets and the ways in which it is used in local cuisine.
Sustainable agriculture, rural development, cooperatives and geographical indication initiatives will also be among the key topics addressed during the festival.
A PROGRAMME THAT EXTENDS ACROSS THE REGION
Festival activities will not be limited to the main event area. Special routes featuring İztuzu Beach, the ancient city of Kaunos, Lake Köyceğiz, the Dalyan Delta and the region’s thermal springs will give visitors an opportunity to experience the wider area from different perspectives.
The festival also aims to highlight Dalyan as a destination to be discovered beyond the summer months, with autumn offering its own distinctive experiences centred around harvest season, gastronomy, nature and culture.
Alongside increasing the visibility of local producers, the festival aims to contribute to continued activity in accommodation, food and beverage, transportation and tourism after the traditional summer season has ended.
“WE ARE LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A LASTING GATHERING”
Ertuğrul Ercan, Chairman of the Board of the Dalyan Tourism Promotion, Social Development and Education Foundation (TUSEV), described the idea behind the festival:
“We do not see this simply as a four-day event dedicated to promoting the pomegranate. We want to tell a broader story that brings together the work of local producers, local culture and the life that continues in Dalyan throughout the autumn. From its very first year, our aim is to lay the foundations for a lasting gathering that grows and evolves year after year.”
The latest festival programme, participating organisations, event venues and announcements can be followed via the official Instagram account of the 1st International Dalyan Pomegranate Festival: @dalyannarfestivali.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Dalyan Pomegranate Festival is a locally focused development initiative organised under the leadership of the Dalyan Tourism Promotion, Social Development and Education Foundation (TUSEV), with the support of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Ortaca Municipality, Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MUTSO), the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), Şef Mavi Fethiye Professional Chefs Association, and Ortaca Women’s Initiative Production and Business Cooperative.
ABOUT TUSEV
The Dalyan Tourism Promotion, Social Development and Education Foundation (TUSEV) works to contribute to the protection, promotion and sustainable development of Dalyan’s natural, cultural and economic assets.
Through initiatives spanning tourism, arts and culture, education and social development, TUSEV seeks to strengthen cooperation between public institutions, local authorities, regional stakeholders and civil society, while contributing to the promotion of Dalyan at both national and international levels.
TUSEV Contact
info@dalyantusev.com
Press Contact
Miray Uçar — Media Relations
