North Cyprus Festival Calendar: March to October
A month-by-month calendar of North Cyprus's local festivals, from the March tulip festival to the October eco day, with known exact dates for 2026 — what each one celebrates and how to plan a visit, with a pointer to the official source for updates.
Throughout the year, North Cyprus hosts a series of local festivals across different regions, each generally celebrating a regional agricultural product or a seasonal theme. This guide walks through the calendar month by month and summarizes what to keep in mind before visiting. Exact dates change every year — we give the known 2026 dates below; if you're planning a trip around a specific festival, confirm the current schedule from an official source before you go.
Festival calendar: month by month
March — Tepebaşı Tulip Festival (in place of Avtepe Medoş)
The year's first festival normally takes place in March, in the Tepebaşı/Avtepe area, celebrating the wild Medoş tulips that bloom locally. In 2026, the Avtepe Medoş Tulip Festival planned by Erenköy-Karpaz Municipality for 22 March was cancelled due to weather and safety conditions; the region's tulip identity carried on through the Tepebaşı Tulip Festival on 28-29 March 2026, organized by LAÇ Municipality and the Tepebaşı headman's office. Sources differ slightly on which village the festival is most closely associated with — confirm the precise location and date from current announcements before visiting.
April — Ayrelli Festival and Yeşilırmak Strawberry Festival
The Mediterranean Ayrelli Festival (LAÇ Municipality) took place on 4-5 April in 2026. The Yeşilırmak Strawberry Festival, held in the Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) area and celebrating the region's strawberry growing, was organized by Lefke Municipality and a local growers' association on 9-10 May in 2026. Confirm the exact dates from current announcements before you travel.
May — Lefke Walnut Festival
Per the official Guzelyurt-Lefke tourism brochure, the Lefke Walnut Festival generally takes place in May, in Lefke, celebrating the town's walnut growing.
June-July — Guzelyurt Orange, Lapta Tourism, İskele and Famagusta Culture, Arts and Tourism festivals
The busiest stretch of the summer season starts in June and runs to mid-July:
- Guzelyurt Orange Festival — celebrates the region's identity as a citrus-growing area, particularly oranges; generally in June.
- Lapta Tourism Festival (LAÇ Municipality) — held 26-28 June in 2026.
- İskele Festival (İskele Municipality) — held 26 June-5 July in 2026.
- Famagusta Culture, Arts and Tourism Festival (Famagusta Municipality) — held 23 June-16 July in 2026, using historic venues such as Othello Castle and Salamis.
- Kozanköy Halloumi, Molasses and Pastelli Festival (LAÇ Municipality) — held on 11 July in 2026.
August — Mehmetçik Grape Festival
Generally held by Mehmetçik-Büyükkonak Municipality in late August, this festival celebrates the region's viticulture tradition and grape harvest.
October — Kyrenia Olive Festival and Büyükkonak Eco Day
Held in early autumn, in October, the Kyrenia Olive Festival is centered on the region's olive and olive-oil production. The same month also brings Mehmetçik-Büyükkonak Municipality's Büyükkonak Eco Day event.
November — Lefke Date Festival
Per the official Guzelyurt-Lefke tourism brochure, the Lefke Date Festival generally takes place in November, in Lefke, celebrating the town's date-palm growing (the same brochure notes Lefke has roughly 2,000 palm trees).
What these festivals are like
What these festivals have in common is that they are local events celebrating a region's agricultural or cultural identity, rather than large commercial productions. They're generally held outdoors, in the region's town square or a festival ground, and typically include produce displays, local food stalls, and cultural performances. In keeping with this site's neutrality, this guide names no specific vendor, stall, or ticket outlet.
Planning a visit
- Confirm the calendar — The 2026 dates above change year to year, and festivals can be cancelled outright (as the Avtepe Medoş festival was in 2026). If you're planning a trip specifically around a festival, confirm the current date from the TRNC Public Information Office's official festivals page or from the relevant municipality/organizer's announcements before you travel.
- Getting there — Festivals are generally held in the host region's own town or village center; plan your transport (private car, public transport) to that area in advance. This guide does not give route-level or schedule-level transport details.
- Crowds — Summer festivals (June-August) coincide with the tourist season and can draw larger crowds; plan accommodation and transport accordingly.
Related: local food
Most of these festivals also feature local dishes related to whatever they're celebrating. For general information on North Cypriot cuisine — halloumi, sheftalia, molohiya and more — see our local food guide.
Last verified: 2026-07-12 · Official source: TRNC Public Information Office — Festivals (pio.mfa.gov.ct.tr). This page is informational only and is not legal or commercial advice.
FAQ
What festivals happen in North Cyprus in summer?
Summer (June-August) is the busiest stretch of the festival calendar: the Guzelyurt Orange Festival, Lapta Tourism Festival, İskele Festival, and Famagusta Culture, Arts and Tourism Festival all generally fall in June-July, followed by the Kozanköy Halloumi, Molasses and Pastelli Festival in July and the Mehmetçik Grape Festival in August. Exact dates change year to year — confirm the current schedule from an official source before planning a trip around one.
When is the Guzelyurt Orange Festival?
It generally takes place in June, but exact dates shift year to year. Confirm the current schedule from an official source (e.g. the TRNC Public Information Office festivals page) before planning a trip around it.
Was the Avtepe Medoş Tulip Festival held in 2026?
No. The Avtepe Medoş Tulip Festival (organized by Erenköy-Karpaz Municipality), planned for 22 March 2026, was cancelled due to weather and safety conditions. The region's tulip-festival identity carried on through the Tepebaşı Tulip Festival, organized by LAÇ Municipality and the Tepebaşı headman's office, on 28-29 March 2026. Sources differ slightly on which village the festival is most closely associated with, so confirm current announcements before visiting.
When is the Kyrenia Olive Festival?
It generally takes place in October. Confirm the exact date from an official source closer to your travel dates.
When are the İskele and Famagusta festivals held?
In 2026, the İskele Festival (organized by İskele Municipality) ran 26 June-5 July, and the Famagusta Culture, Arts and Tourism Festival (organized by Famagusta Municipality) ran 23 June-16 July, using venues such as Othello Castle and Salamis.
When is the Mehmetçik Grape Festival?
It's generally held by Mehmetçik-Büyükkonak Municipality in late August. As with all festivals on this page, confirm the exact date before you travel, since it shifts year to year.
What do we know about the Yeşilırmak Strawberry Festival?
It's a local festival organized by Lefke Municipality and a local growers' association in the Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) area, celebrating the region's strawberry growing. In 2026 it took place on 9-10 May. Confirm the exact date from current announcements before you travel.
When are the Lefke Walnut and Lefke Date festivals held?
According to the official Guzelyurt-Lefke tourism brochure, the Lefke Walnut Festival generally takes place in May, and the Lefke Date Festival generally takes place in November (Lefke has roughly 2,000 date palms, per the same brochure). Exact dates for both can shift year to year — confirm current announcements before you travel.
Are festival dates the same every year?
No. We give known exact 2026 dates on this page, but the program changes annually and some festivals — as happened with the Avtepe Medoş Tulip Festival — can be cancelled outright due to weather. If you're planning a trip specifically around a festival, confirm the current date from the TRNC Public Information Office's official festivals page or the relevant municipality before you travel.
Are there festivals in Kozanköy and Büyükkonak?
Yes. LAÇ Municipality's Kozanköy Halloumi, Molasses and Pastelli Festival took place on 11 July 2026; Mehmetçik-Büyükkonak Municipality's Eco Day event is held in October. Both are small-scale, locally attended events.
What is the Ayrelli Festival?
The Mediterranean Ayrelli Festival, organized by LAÇ Municipality, took place on 4-5 April 2026 — one of the region's smaller local festivals.
Can I try local food at these festivals?
Yes — festivals typically feature local dishes related to whatever they're celebrating. For general information on North Cypriot cuisine, see our [local food guide](/en/rehber/turizm/local-food).
Legal note: This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Confirm current details with the relevant authority before acting.
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