TAKE A MAGICAL TRIP AT THE QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET

Background

The Turkish Pazar Festival will take visitors on a magical journey through Türkiye at the iconic Queen Victoria Market on 11 and 12 April 2026.

The President of Moreland Turkish Association Mr Cemal Akdeniz OAM said “As proud migrants from Türkiye and Cyprus we have made multicultural Australia our home. We are passionate about sharing our rich histories and traditions. We are also proud to showcase achievements of the Turkish community in Australia. In 2026, we invite everyone to join us on a magical cultural trip through Türkiye at this family-friendly, free event which is open to everyone”.

Pazar is the Turkish word for both Sunday and bazaar or market - a fitting connection for a traditional street market held at the historic Queen Victoria Market.

Highlights of the Festival

Visitors to the Festival will enjoy the vibrant tastes, colours and sounds of a trip to Türkiye without leaving home.

Numerous food stalls will entice the hungriest taste buds with Melbourne’s favourite Turkish sweet and savoury foods offering many choices for vegans and vegetarians. Visitors can relax and enjoy the extensive menu, while watching the exciting entertainment program with old and new friends. Cultural displays will introduce the traditional Turkish art of ebru (paper marbling) and showcase arts and crafts from Türkiye and Cyprus. On Sunday a highlight will be the military precision of the colourful Australian Ottoman Mehter Band.

Whether you’re discovering Türkiye for the first time, planning a trip, reminiscing about your happy memories of Türkiye or reconnecting with familiar traditions, the Turkish Pazar Festival offers something for everyone. We look forward to welcoming you as we share an exciting trip through Türkiye.

Our Sponsors
Moreland Turkish Association is a totally voluntary organisation which relies on sponsors, supporters and volunteers to deliver events. Major sponsors for the Turkish Pazar Festival 2026 are the City of Melbourne,Sahara, Turkish Airlines, YTB (Presidency for Turks Abroad), and the Victorian Government.
Other sponsors include the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Commonwealth Bank, Queen Victoria Market, Fairy Chimneys Travel, and Gözleme Turkish Café. We thank these companies for sharing our vision and supporting our work.

About Moreland Turkish Association

The Moreland Turkish Association was formed in 1985 to provide support for the active integration and involvement of the Turkish community living in the Merri-bek area.

For more information Follow MorelandTurkishAssociation on Facebook or turkish_pazar_festival on Instagram For media inquiries call Cemal Akdeniz OAM on 0409 439 839 or Mike Akdeniz on 0428 937 806