Türkiye marks the 88th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the republic, on Tuesday, 10 November. Atatürk died at 09:05 on 10 November 1938 at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, and the country pauses at that minute every year. For foreign residents and visitors, the day brings a short nationwide stop in the morning, official ceremonies and flags at half mast, but otherwise normal working life.
Update, 10 November, 10:05: In his message in the Anıtkabir special book, Erdoğan commemorated Atatürk on the 88th anniversary of his death, together with his comrades in arms, the members of the parliament that led the War of Independence, the martyrs and the veterans, Yeni Birlik, Aksiyon and Yeni Akit reported. He wrote that, at a difficult time for the region and the world, the state was using all its resources to carry the republic and its 86 million citizens towards a more prosperous future, and pledged to keep working in unity for the homeland entrusted by the martyrs and veterans, according to the same outlets. Political party leaders, cabinet ministers and the Chief of General Staff, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, were also among those at the ceremony, Yeni Birlik and Yeni Akit reported. (Sources: Yeni Birlik, Aksiyon, Yeni Akit.)
A normal working day
10 November is a day of commemoration, not a public holiday. Yeni Asır, Milli Gazete and Habertürk all report that the day is not on the list of official holidays and that schools, public offices and other services follow their usual hours. Milli Gazete and Habertürk say banks and state offices will stay open, and private-sector workplaces are not required to close.
Schools hold their own ceremonies during the morning and then continue with lessons, Yeni Asır and Milli Gazete report.
09:05: sirens and silence
At 09:05, sirens will sound across the country and people stop for a silence lasting about two minutes, followed in official ceremonies by the national anthem, the İstiklal Marşı, according to Milli Gazete and Son Söz. Habertürk and Yeni Asır also report that a moment of silence will be held nationwide at that time.
In previous years many people in cities have stopped where they were, and drivers have halted or switched off their engines in traffic; BirGün reported in 2024 that people in the metro, on the streets and in traffic stood in silence. Milli Gazete says drivers who stop should do so in a safe place, and warns against sudden braking or blocking the road.
Flags and ceremonies
Flags on official buildings are lowered to half mast on 10 November, Milli Gazete and Habertürk report.
The main state ceremony takes place in the morning at Anıtkabir, Atatürk’s mausoleum in Ankara, where senior state officials walk along the Road of Lions (Aslanlı Yol) and lay a wreath at the tomb, BirGün and Son Söz report. Commemorations are also held in schools, public institutions and towns across the country, according to BirGün and Anadolu Agency’s daily agenda.
In previous years, Ankara police have closed roads around the mausoleum, including Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvarı, Anıt Caddesi and Gençlik Caddesi, for the duration of the programme, Türkiye Gazetesi and Politikam reported in 2023 and 2025. Anyone travelling in central Ankara on Tuesday morning should allow extra time.
For other practical information on life in the country, see our moving to Turkey checklist.
Sources
- 10 Kasım yarım gün tatil mi, tam gün mü? Salı günü mesai olacak mı, öğrenciler ders işleyecek mi? (Milli Gazete)
- 10 KASIM BUGÜN RESMİ TATİL Mİ? 10 Kasım 2026 Salı günü okullar açık mı, kamu kurumları çalışıyor mu? (Habertürk)
- 10 Kasım tatil mi? 10 Kasım’da okullar tatil olacak mı? (Yeni Asır)
- 10 Kasım’da sirenler neden çalar, saat kaçta çalacak? (Milli Gazete)
- 10 Kasım’da Türkiye tek yürek olacak: Atatürk saygıyla anılacak (Son Söz)
- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk yurdun her yanında anılacak (BirGün)
- Atatürk, vefatının 88. yılında yurt genelinde törenlerle anılacak (Haberler.com / AA)
- Ülkede hayat 9’u 5 geçe durdu (BirGün, 2024)
- Ankara’da bazı yollar 10 Kasım dolayısıyla araç trafiğine kapatılabilir (Türkiye Gazetesi, 2023)
- Ankara 10 Kasım yol kapatma listesi (Politikam, 2025)
Photo: William Neuheisel from DC, US / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
