The story
Mersin International Music Festival in Mersin
Founded in 2002 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Mersin State Opera and Ballet, the Mersin International Music Festival, known as Merfest, is a non-governmental classical, jazz, and pop event that has drawn performers from Spain, Italy, the United States, Germany, and beyond across more than 20 editions.
When the Mersin State Opera and Ballet marked its tenth anniversary in 2002, the celebration took the form of a new festival rather than a single gala: the Mersin International Music Festival, known locally as Merfest, launched that year as an independent, non-governmental project backed by private companies, Mersin University, local municipalities, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.