Turks all around the world are preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye on 29 October 1923.

One of the gala events taking place in London will be “The Centenary Ball for the Founding of the Republic of Turkiye” in the ballroom of the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.

Organised by Çanakkale Anma Platformu (Çanakkale Remembrance Platform, ÇAP), the event on Sunday, 29 October 2023, will feature an exclusive performance by famous Turkish pop singer Sibel Tüzün and soprano Sibel Demir, who will perform a range of songs beloved by Atatürk. The evening will be hosted by celebrity couple, actress İnci Türkay and actor Atilla Saral.

Vocal powerhouse Sibel Tüzün is preparing to deliver “an unforgettable performance” at The Centenary Ball. The singer, who represented Türkiye at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with the track ‘Superstar’, and her band will create a celebratory atmosphere with a rendition of popular uplifting Turkish songs.

Also on the bill is opera singer Sibel Demir, who will be with her rich and eclectic repertoire that will comprise of Turkish classical and folk music songs through to opera and jazz.

The ball starts with a reception at 5.30pm, followed by a dinner and dance, which concludes at 10.45pm. Tickets for the event are priced £150 per person.

ÇAP President Servet Hassan said, “We welcome everyone to our ball who wishes to experience the joy and enthusiasm of this historical celebration, which will take place with the participation of our state’s official representatives, local government administrators, non-governmental organisation representatives, citizens and compatriots.”

The ÇAP, which initially started as an umbrella platform where nine different British Turkish organisations could come together to mark the centenary of the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli, has continued to organise annual events to honour those who laid down their lives at Gallipoli and also to mark other key dates of significance for the British Turkish community.

Ball details

Title: The Centenary Ball for the Founding of the Republic of Turkiye

Date: Sunday 29 October 2023

Time:  5:30pm to 10:45pm

5.30pm – Reception

6.30pm – Dinner and Dance

10.45pm – Closing Ceremony

Venue: The Ballroom, Royal Garden Hotel, 2 to 24 Kensington High St, London W8 4PT

Admission: £150 (Student £100). Age Limit – 12, who must be with their family. Please note, no tickets will be available for purchase at the door

For more info & tickets: please e-mail canakkaleplatformu@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07788 908 803 or 0771 779 0830

Main image, top, clockwise from left: Sibel Demir, Sibel Tüzün, Atilla Saral and İnci Türkay.