The Istanbul Governor‘s Office has announced extensive security arrangements, as well as reinforced inspections and emergency response teams for the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations, due to the expected massive influx of public and tourists and the organisation of numerous festive events at this time, but also due to the arrival of a cold storm that could bring freezing temperatures during the night and even snowfall at the highest altitudes of the city.
In a statement released by Turkish media, the governor stressed that all necessary measures have been taken “so that the New Year in Istanbul will be received in peace, security and public order throughout the city”. The plan foresees the deployment of police, gendarmes and coast guards throughout Istanbul, with special attention to shopping centres, airports, bus terminals, public transport hubs, entertainment venues and large squares where celebrations for the arrival of 2026 are expected.
As part of the operation, Turkish security forces will carry out intensive checks at 1,661 points, supported by 7,225 ground vehicles, 37 maritime units and 4 helicopters, with a total of 50,427 personnel mobilised during the festive period. Emergency services will remain on high alert and all hospitals in Istanbul will maintain 24-hour care, while the 112 emergency health service will operate from a central command hub and 340 additional stations, with 1,304 personnel working between 31 December and 1 January.
In addition, teams from the provincial unit of the Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD), the Disaster Coordination Centre (AKOM) and the Istanbul Fire Brigade will be ready and on standby for possible emergency situations and other contingencies.
Special customer protection measures
In addition to reinforced security and emergency teams, in order to protect consumers at a time of high consumption and spending, inspections against price rises have been intensified. The Directorate of Trade will carry out inspections against price speculation with 33 teams and 90 inspectors, while the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry will carry out food and hygiene checks with 813 inspectors.
The entry of heavy goods vehicles and construction machinery has also been temporarily banned from 8am on 31 December until 12:00 noon on 1 January in several central Istanbul districts, including Sarıyer, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Fatih, Bakırköy, Zeytinburnu and Kadıköy. Municipal teams will also step up monitoring duties, while utility companies have activated preventive plans for possible disruptions to electricity, water, natural gas and telecommunications supplies.
Sub-zero temperatures to welcome the New Year in Istanbul
All these measures are being taken as meteorologists warn of a severe onset of winter. With much of Turkey subjected to heavy snowfall that has forced school closures and left collapsed roads, an arctic air mass could leave sub-zero temperatures in Istanbul from the evening of 31 December.
In the northern districts of Istanbul, the rain could turn to snow around midnight, especially in high altitude areas of the province, leaving open the possibility that Turkey’s and Europe’s largest city will welcome New Year’s Eve and the New Year 2026 in – at least some of it – white.
VOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM
🧿 About us
.
Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
…
📣 Your ADVERTISING on Hispanatolia
.
🤗 HELP US WITH A DONATION:
💗 Paypal
