On May 19, Istanbul was buzzing – especially Taksim Square. In Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day is an official holiday. For years, the holiday was called “Youth and Sports Day“. In 1981, the Turkish National Security Council and UNESCO dedicated the entire year to Atatürk. To honor the founder of the Republic of Türkie, then President Kenan Evren changed the name. Atatürk was a beloved statesman, writer, marshal, and commander-in-chief of the Turkish War of Independence.
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“On May 19, 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Samsun on the coast of the Black Sea. This day is considered the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence against occupation by the Allied Powers.”
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History
The holiday was first celebrated in 1926, as Gazi Day (Veterans Day). In 1935, it was officially recognized as “Atatürk Day“. Celebrations at Fenerbahçe Stadium were initiated by the Beşiktaş Gymnastics Club. After that, the annual celebration became a sports day with the participation of hundreds of athletes from Istanbul Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe soccer clubs.
In 1938, the Sports Congress proposed an annual Atatürk Day celebration especially accessible to young people. The proposal was approved by Congress and Atatürk, and was known as 19 May Youth and Sports Day.
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“I landed in Samsun in May 1919, with no material force in my hands. What I had was a spiritual strength born from the nobility of the great Turkish nation filling my conscience. It was with this national power and trust in the Turkish nation, that I began my task.” Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
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Celebrations
“May 19th is celebrated with sports demonstrations and ceremonies. A giant ‘Flag of Love’ inscribed – ‘From the Youth to the President with Love for Atatürk’ – is brought ashore from the Black Sea and presented to the governor of Samsun.” Then, the flag travels through several Anatolian cities, before young athletes present it to the president in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Free Concerts and Sports Events
In Istanbul and across 81 Turkish provinces, there will be free May 19th concerts hosted by Metropolitan Ministries of Culture. Events include individual and team sports, from paddling and athletics to football and cycling.
2026 UEFA Europa League Final
Adding to the excitement, the 2026 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa League final is in Istanbul. The game between SC Freiburg and Aston Villa FC takes place at Beşiktaş Park on May 20 at 10:00 pm. A massive influx of fans will create heavier traffic congestion. Roads around Besiktas Park will be shut down, and Metro services are extended overnight.
It’s Freiberg’s first-ever “continental decider“. Villa is in their first UEFA final since winning the 1982 European Cup. Prince William will attend the game to support Aston Villa.
“The 2026 final will be the second major UEFA event at Beşiktaş Park. It follows the 2019 UEFA Super Cup game, in which UEFA Champion League winners, Liverpool, beat Europa League winners, Chelsea, 5-4. Home of 16-time Turkish Super League champions, Beşiktaş, it’s a massive venue on the north side of the Bosphorus, with a capacity of 40,000.”
UEFA Europa League Trophy
‘The UEFA Europa League Trophy is the heaviest of all UEFA silverware. Unlike other trophy cups awarded in European club competition, it has no handles. It’s awarded to bold, dynamic teams who win the annual final. The trophy tips the scales at 33 lbs. and is 25.5 inches high, 13 inches wide, and 9 inches deep.”
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“The soccer trophy, a silver cup on a yellow marble plinth, was designed and crafted at the GDE Bertoni workshop in Milan. Just above the plinth, a group of players seem to be jostling for the ball. In fact, they’re supporting the octagonal ‘cup’ which is emblazoned with the UEFA emblem.”
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The original trophy remains with UEFA at all times. A full-sized replica is awarded to the winning club. Any club that wins the trophy three consecutive times, or five times in total, receives a special mark of recognition, with the club then starting a new cycle from zero.”
Turkish people clearly get excited about soccer games! Soccer clubs and May 19th commemorations are both bold examples of Turkish nationalism.