Fire of Anatolia at Aspendos: What to Know Before You Go

Fire of Anatolia (Anadolu Ateşi in Turkish) is one of Türkiye’s best-known dance companies, and in the warmer months it performs at Aspendos, about an hour’s drive from Side. The show itself is easy to enjoy. The practical side is where visitors get caught out: the venue has changed over the years, the seats are stone that is more than 1,800 years old, the start is late, and the programme can vary from one date to the next.

This guide covers those details, and explains how our Fire of Anatolia evening with hotel transfers works if you’re staying in Side. Booking is by request: you send a request for your chosen date and we confirm it.

What Fire of Anatolia is

The company was founded by Mustafa Erdoğan, who is still its artistic director, and gave its first performance on 3 May 2001. It works with a troupe of around 120 dancers and combines folk dances from different parts of Anatolia with ballet and modern dance. Expect big ensemble pieces, very fast footwork, colourful costumes and strong lighting effects rather than a story told in words, so you don’t need any Turkish to follow it.

Two numbers come up in most descriptions of the group, and both are Guinness World Records: the fastest dance performance, at 241 steps per minute, and the largest audience, a standing crowd of about 400,000 people in Ereğli in the Black Sea region. The company tours abroad for much of the year, which is why its Antalya dates are concentrated in the warm season.

The company also stages other productions at Aspendos, including Evrim and Troya (Troy), and the programme varies by date. Check which show is on for the date you choose before you send your request, especially if you have a preference.

Where it’s staged now: the ancient theatre, not the arena

If you read older reviews you’ll find two venues mentioned, and they’re not the same place.

Fire of Anatolia originally performed inside the Roman theatre of Aspendos. In 2008, with restoration of the theatre on the agenda, the company moved to a purpose-built open-air venue about a kilometre away, the Aspendos Arena. It performed there for about eleven years, and in late 2019 a rental dispute with the landowner put the arena’s future in doubt.

By 2025 the show was back inside the ancient theatre: the 2025 season and the 2026 ticket calendars both list the venue as the Aspendos Ancient Theatre (Aspendos Antik Tiyatrosu) in Serik district, with a seating capacity of 4,700 for the show. That matters for a few practical reasons covered below: the seating is original stone, the stairs are steep, and some details in older write-ups, such as modern seating and wheelchair access, were written about the arena.

The theatre itself is a remarkable place to watch anything. It was built between AD 161 and 180, under Marcus Aurelius, by an architect from the city named Zenon, and it is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres anywhere, with its full stage wall still standing. The Seljuks later used it as a caravanserai.

When it runs: season, nights and start time

This is an open-air show, so it runs in the warmer part of the year. In 2026 the Aspendos dates ran from early May to the end of October. In July and August most performances fell on Tuesdays and Fridays; the rest of the season had fewer dates, mostly about one night a week or less.

The 2026 performances at Aspendos started at 21:00. The show lasts about two hours, split into two halves with an interval of roughly 20 minutes. Some listings say three hours; visitors report that it’s closer to two.

At the time of writing, the remaining 2026 dates on sale are 20 and 27 October. Because the company plans its Antalya nights around its tours, the calendar changes from year to year, and so does which show is staged on a given night. Check the tour page for the dates and options available when you’re travelling.

How the evening works from Side

On our evening you’re collected from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and driven to Aspendos, roughly an hour from the Side area. The show ticket is included, and you’re taken back to your hotel after the performance. Drinks aren’t included.

Booking works by request: you send a request for the date you want, and we confirm it. With a 21:00 start and a two-hour show, plan on a late night, which is worth knowing if you have an early start the next morning.

If you’re staying further from Side, mention your hotel in your request and we’ll let you know whether pickup from your area is possible.

Seats, stairs and comfort

Seating is unnumbered within your ticket category, so you choose your own place. Arriving with time to spare gives you a better choice of seat, and a few minutes to look at the theatre before it fills up.

The seats are the original stone tiers, and after two hours they are hard. The most repeated tip in visitor reviews is simple: bring something soft to sit on. A small cushion or a folded beach towel works.

A few other points from people who have been:

• The steps are steep and uneven, and it’s darker on the way out than on the way in. Take your time, and use your phone’s torch if you need it.
• With mobility problems or a fear of heights, sit lower down and close to an aisle, or think twice about this one. Ask us before booking if you’re unsure.
• Toilets are basic for the size of the crowd, and there are queues at the interval.
• In spring and autumn the evenings cool down after dark. A light layer is worth carrying.

Food and the house rules

Outside food and drink are not allowed into the venue. There are stands selling drinks and snacks, which you pay for on the spot. Have a light meal before you’re collected, since the show runs late.

Is it a good evening for children?

It can be, with caveats. Children who enjoy music and movement usually love the energy of the show, and the setting is impressive at any age. The downsides are the late finish, the loud music and effects, and two hours on hard seats.

If you’re travelling with children, mention their ages in your booking request and we’ll confirm the options. For toddlers and young children who fall asleep early, a daytime visit to Aspendos may be the better choice.

See Aspendos in daylight too

At night your attention is on the stage, and you see little of the building itself. By day you can walk the tiers and see how complete the stage wall is. If ancient sites interest you, our guide to Perge, Aspendos and Alanya as day trips from Side explains how Aspendos works as part of a day out.

Other evenings out around Side

If the dates don’t work for your stay, or the late finish doesn’t suit you, there are gentler evenings closer to the hotel. Our Land of Legends evening with the water show and shopping is collected from Side or Manavgat and gives you free time to walk the lit-up canals, with the water show included and food and drinks at your own cost.

Closer still, the Temple of Apollo at the tip of the Side peninsula is the classic sunset spot; our Side Ancient City guide covers the walk there. For more ideas across the whole day, see our list of the best things to do in Side.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Fire of Anatolia show held?

In the 2025 and 2026 seasons, inside the Roman theatre of Aspendos in Serik district, Antalya. From 2008, for about a decade, the company used the nearby Aspendos Arena, so older reviews may describe that venue instead.

What time does it start and how long is it?

The 2026 Aspendos performances started at 21:00. The show lasts about two hours, including an interval of roughly 20 minutes.

How far is Aspendos from Side?

Roughly an hour’s drive from the Side area. On our evening, hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Should I bring a cushion?

Yes, if you can. The seats are the theatre’s original stone tiers. A small cushion or a folded towel makes the two hours far more comfortable.

Is it always the same show?

No. Besides Fire of Anatolia, the company also stages Evrim and Troya at Aspendos, and the programme varies by date. Check the show on your chosen date before you send your request.

How do I book?

Send a booking request for your chosen date on the tour page, and we’ll confirm it.

Is the show on in winter?

No. It’s an open-air production and runs in the warmer months; in 2026 the Aspendos dates ran from early May to the end of October. The last 2026 dates on sale are 20 and 27 October; check the tour page for the next season’s dates.

Are drinks included?

Drinks aren’t included in our tour, and outside food and drink aren’t allowed in. You can buy drinks and snacks at the stands on site.