Tickets

Şeb-i Arus: the night of 17 December

Şeb-i Arus, the 'wedding night', is the anniversary of Rumi's death in Konya on 17 December 1273, which the Mevlevi celebrate as his union with God. Konya holds an international commemoration each year, in 2025 nightly from 7 to 17 December; the 2026 programme had not been announced when we checked on 19 September 2026. In Istanbul, 17 December 2026 is a Thursday, when Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi holds no regular ceremony.

Checked against its sources on .

A Mevlevi sheikh in a black cloak kneeling on the red sheepskin post, the seat of the sheikh during the Sema
The post, the red sheepskin where the sheikh sits. Dervishes bow to it as they pass.

Rumi died in Konya at sunset on 17 December 1273. He had told his followers not to grieve: for him death was the soul's return to its beloved, its wedding night. The Mevlevi have kept the anniversary ever since under that name, Şeb-i Arûs, and it is the most important night of their year.

In Konya

Konya holds the International Mevlana Commemoration Ceremonies every December, organised by the Ministry of Culture since 1989 and held at the Mevlana Cultural Center since 2003. In 2025, the 752nd anniversary, the ceremonies ran nightly from 7 to 17 December and ended with the Şeb-i Arus programme on 17 December at 19:00. Tickets were sold through biletinial and sold out; cultural events around the city were free.

For 2026, the 753rd anniversary, no programme had been published when we checked on 19 September 2026. If the pattern holds it will run from 7 to 17 December, but treat that as a guess until the Ministry announces it, and book early when it does.

In Istanbul

Istanbul venues have marked the night in recent years: the Atatürk Cultural Centre held special ceremonies in 2023 and 2024, and Yenikapı Mevlevihanesi in December 2025. We had found no 2026 announcement when we checked.

At Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi the regular ceremonies continue through December on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 17:00. In 2026 the anniversary itself falls on a Thursday; the nearest regular ceremonies are on Wednesday 16 and Friday 18 December. Any special date the lodge adds will appear on the tickets page as soon as it is in the booking system.

Planning around it

  • Konya in mid-December is cold, often below freezing at night; the ceremonies are indoors.
  • Hotels in Konya fill for the final nights. Book when the programme is announced.
  • Combine the two cities: a ceremony in Istanbul, then Rumi's tomb, the Mevlana Museum (free), and the commemoration in Konya. Konya or Istanbul.

Questions people ask

What is Şeb-i Arus?
The anniversary of the death of the poet Rumi on 17 December 1273. Şeb-i Arus means 'wedding night' in Persian: Rumi taught that death is the soul's union with God, so the Mevlevi mark the night as a celebration rather than a mourning.
When is Şeb-i Arus 2026?
17 December 2026, a Thursday. Konya's commemoration usually runs for the ten days before it; in 2025 it ran from 7 to 17 December. The 2026 dates had not been announced on 19 September 2026.
Where do you buy Şeb-i Arus tickets?
For Konya, the Ministry of Culture sold the 2025 ceremony tickets through biletinial.com, and they sold out. Watch the Ministry's Şeb-i Arus site for the 2026 announcement.
Is there a Şeb-i Arus ceremony in Istanbul?
Several Istanbul venues have held special ceremonies in December: the AKM in 2023 and 2024, and Yenikapı Mevlevihanesi in 2025. None had been announced for 2026 when we checked. The regular ceremonies at Kasımpaşa continue on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Sources