IST.FESTIVAL (International Istanbul Art & Culture Festival) marked its 15th anniversary in Istanbul, drawing an international roster of cultural leaders and tastemakers. This year’s edition, themed “What Is Really Real?”, featured celebrated participants including Jeff Koons, Kid Cudi, Waris Ahluwalia, Lou Doillon, Inez & Vinoodh, Flavin Judd, José Parlá, Jonah Freeman, Sheree Hovespian, Stefan Sagmeister, and Tricia Tuttle, among others.

Hosted by ISTANBUL’74 co-founders Demet Müftüoğlu Eşeli and Alphan Eşeli, the festival’s gala dinner took place at The Marmara Esma Sultan—a striking 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus—presented in partnership with Bulgari and The Financial Times. Guests including Anja Rubik, Hazar Ugüçlü, and Benjamin Paulin gathered for an elegant evening that continued late into the night, as attendees moved on to the Bebek Hotel for drinks and dancing to vinyl DJ sets by Memo Garan and artist José Parlá.

Images courtesy of DADA Goldberg