One of Istanbul's Oldest Gay Bars Tek Yön Closed

In the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, the gay bar Tek Yön, which had been operating for 18 years, has been closed by the authorities. As reported by Bianet , the closure took place on June 27, 2026, following critical publications about the venue in several Turkish media outlets.

The media attention was sparked by a social media post from the bar, which invited passengers of the Atlantis cruise ship to a party. Journalists accused the establishment of organizing a “gay party on the Bosphorus.”

An official statement from the Istanbul administration said the bar was closed due to “illegal activities and legislative violations.” In turn, representatives of Tek Yön stated that they have no organizational connection to the cruise ship, did not plan to host parties on board, and did not organize special events for the passengers. According to them, the post was a mistake by a social media specialist, and the bar has always operated in strict compliance with Turkish law.

Tek Yön bar opened in 2008 and was considered one of the most well-known venues for the LGBT community in Istanbul.