Organised this year for the 43rd time under the auspices of our Directorate of Communications, the Turkish Day Parade was held in New York City, United States, on 16 May 2026, attracting strong participation and great enthusiasm. Bringing together thousands from the Turkish-American community and different cultural backgrounds, the events showcased Türkiye’s cultural heritage, hospitality, and strong messages across the streets of New York.
The 43rd Turkish Day celebrations got underway with a flag-raising ceremony at Bowling Green Park on Wall Street on 15 May 2026. The Turkish and American flags were raised side by side during the ceremony, symbolising the friendship and shared values between the two countries. The flags of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) also waved proudly through the streets as part of the ceremony. Following the flag-raising ceremony, the Mehter Band under the Ministry of National Defence performed for the participants.
The main highlight of the events, the Turkish Day Parade, was held on Saturday, 16 May 2026, starting at Madison Avenue and 38th Street and ending at Madison Square Park on 25th Street. As Turkish flags adorned the streets of New York during the parade, which featured tens of thousands of participants, the performances by the janissary band and dance ensemble, along with cultural performances and music events, drew significant attention throughout the festival.
Addressing participants through a video message, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "The 43rd Turkish Day Parade, organised by the Turkish-American community, is the most eloquent expression of the Turkish presence in America. This parade, adorning the streets of Manhattan with our star‑and‑crescent flag, is a vivid manifestation of the dignity and self‑confidence of the Turkish nation."
Delivering a video message to the Turkish-American community, the Presidency's Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran said, "With a history spanning more than 80 years, the Turkish-American community has become an integral and respected part of the United States. Through the accomplishments you achieve in every field you pursue, you build a bridge of friendship, while representing our culture and values in the strongest possible way. From this perspective, you act as citizen diplomats for Türkiye."
The LED-screen trucks touring the streets of New York as part of the parade emerged as one of the event’s most striking features. The trucks, which toured Manhattan’s busiest areas throughout the day, communicated Türkiye’s cultural heritage and environmental vision to millions.
The content displayed on the screens of the LED-screen trucks highlighted Türkiye’s historical, cultural, and natural assets. Values unique to Turkish cities such as Afyonkarahisar, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kırşehir, Bursa, Kütahya, and Şanlıurfa—which are members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and stand out for gastronomy, music, and handicrafts—were introduced to the international public through curated visuals and messages.
While the theme ''From the Bosphorus to the Hudson: Türkiye Shines in New York'' emphasised the historical and cultural bridge that Türkiye has built between East and West, it also highlighted the symbolic connection established between New York and İstanbul. Under the theme ''Anatolian Warmth Meets American Spirit'', Turkish hospitality as well as coffee and tea culture were brought to the forefront. Traditional treats such as Turkish delight and Baklava, alongside visuals of the Turkish Ankara cat, attracted considerable attention from American audiences. In designs created under the theme ''Colours of Türkiye in the Heart of America'', Türkiye's tourism and historical values were presented through vibrant visuals.
The content featured not only cultural themes but also gave broad coverage to Türkiye’s environmental and sustainability efforts carried out on a global scale. In particular, exclusive content created within the framework of the Zero Waste Movement, which has been carried out under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, has contributed to raising international environmental conciousness.
Under the theme “A Greener Future Begins with Global Cooperation,” attention was drawn to the COP31 Climate Summit that Türkiye will host in Antalya in 2026. Through the theme ''Türkiye Leads the World Towards a Waste-Free Future'', Türkiye’s environmental policies and Zero Waste vision were conveyed to the international public.
The 43rd Turkish Day Parade and accompanying events strengthened unity and solidarity within the Turkish-American community, while once again bringing Türkiye’s cultural richness and strong international vision to the attention of the global public.
The Turkish Day Parade first started in 1981 in response to the assassination of a Turkish diplomat in the US by the Armenian terrorist organisation ASALA, and turned into a traditional celebration in the years that followed.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Washington, Önal, highlights diaspora’s role in Türkiye's global influence
Türkiye's Ambassador to Washington, Sedat Önal, delivered remarks at the 43rd Turkish Day Parade event, accompanied by his spouse, Figen Önal, alongside Türkiye's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ahmet Yıldız, and his spouse, Emine Yıldız, as well as Türkiye’s Consul General in New York, Muhittin Ahmet Yazal.
Önal noted that the Turkish Day Parade has become a ''traditional and symbolic celebration'' in which Turkish identity and culture are preserved while also being introduced to American society, expressing his gratitude to all those who contributed to sustaining this long-standing tradition, especially the Federation of Turkish American Associations (TADF) and delegations from Türkiye.
Ambassador Önal stated that the ''strong Turkish diaspora abroad has significantly contributed to Türkiye's emergence as a global actor, whose opinions are sought and whose contributions are valued'' on the international stage.
Addressing the Turkish community at the festival site, Önal said, ''We are very pleased with the growing size of the Turkish community here, and we are proud of its achievements. We are proud to be representatives of Türkiye whose global influence is steadily increasing.''
Önal noted that one of the primary objectives of Türkiye's Embassy and Consulates General in the United States is to strengthen communication and solidarity within the Turkish-American community, adding that they would continue their efforts in this direction and expect opinion leaders within the community to contribute to this process actively.
Ambassador Önal urged the Turkish-American community to regularly follow the Embassy’s and Consulates General’s social media accounts and websites and to support the Turkish National Team, which will be visiting the United States next month as part of the FIFA World Cup.
