PhilFest’26, now in its fifth year, will take place on Saturday, September 26, at the Spring Festival area. Organized by the Department of Philosophy, the Bilkent Philosophical Society and the Bilkent University Library, the festival aims to present philosophy not only as an academic field but as an experience connected to music, dance, art, science and daily life. The day-long program will feature talks, a Lindy Hop dance workshop, “Women in Philosophy” Pecha Kucha presentations, quiz competitions, exhibitions, interactive posters, a book fair and “Come, Let’s Discuss” tables. Talks include “Cinema, Literature and Possible Worlds,” “Life, Nature and Philosophy,” “The Social Epistemology of Science Communication” and “A Philosophical Look at Quantum Physics.” Speakers include Erkcan Özcan, Bayram Tekin, Cansu Yüksel, Mehmet Elgin, Nurcan Seven and Ömer Kamacı. Visitors can browse discounted philosophy books at the book fair and meet philosophy associations and communities from across Türkiye. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is free. Visitors who are not Bilkent students or staff must register at philfest.bilkent.edu.tr. In the evening, the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra will perform at Bilkent Odeon in a concert with commentary by A. Onur Aktaş, bringing philosophy and classical music together on the same stage. The concert begins at 7 p.m.; tickets are available at bso.bilkent.edu.tr.
