By Rasheed Abubakar
*As historic milestone brings together national and local institutions across party lines
Tens of thousands of residents and visitors gathered in Bursa on April 4, 2026, to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the city’s conquest, as the Kuruluş Orhan cast and crew joined the festivities honoring centuries of Ottoman history.
The 21st Osman Gazi Commemoration and Conquest Festival was inaugurated by Bursa Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın at the Panorama 1326 Bursa Conquest Museum.
Muslim News Entertainment gathered that the event featured the “From Painting to Place” exhibition and a symposium titled “Seven Faces of Bursa: From Conquest to Republic,” which highlighted the city’s seven centuries evolution.
Bursa’nın fethinin 700. yılı vesilesiyle Bursa Valiliği (@BursaValiligi) ve Büyükşehir Belediyesinin düzenlediği programa İl Başkanımız İsmail Kaya (@ismailkaya_16) ve GİK Üyemiz Bursa Milletvekilimiz Hasan Toktaş (@HasanToktasTR) ile katıldık.
Fethin 700. yılında Osmanlı… pic.twitter.com/sLFcnAEsEG— Selçuk Türkoğlu (@YS_Turkoglu) April 4, 2026
Exhibits connected historical moments to their present-day locations, while scholars explored Bursa’s cultural and political significance.
Mayor Aydın described the city as “a strong, deeply rooted civilization,” adding that “inspired by the past, we walk toward the future with more confident steps.” He emphasized that the festival’s year-long events aim to pass Bursa’s historical and cultural values on to future generations.
The celebrations also included the “700th Anniversary Conquest March,” beginning at Balaban Bey Castle and proceeding through İpekçilik Street, Atatürk Street, and Saltanat Gate, before culminating at Tophane Square.
Bursa’nın fethinin 700. yıl dönümünü gurur ve coşkuyla kutladık.
Bizler, ecdadımızdan devraldığımız bu büyük mirasın emanetçileriyiz. Bu emaneti korumak, yaşatmak ve gelecek nesillere en güçlü şekilde aktarmak hepimizin ortak vazifesidir.
Bu anlamlı yıl dönümü vesilesiyle başta… pic.twitter.com/z5NlTV1CrS
— T.C. Bursa Valiliği (@BursaValiligi) April 4, 2026
Guests from sister cities attended, strengthening bonds through shared history and culture.
The Kuruluş Orhan team expressed their excitement at taking part in the commemorations. They joined the celebrations and also visited the Tomb of Osman Gazi (Osman Gazi Türbesi) in Bursa, where the founder of the Ottoman Empire was laid to rest on the very day his son, Sultan Orhan, conquered the city.
The series is currently airing on ATV every Wednesday. 
Bugün Bursa’nın fethinin 700. yılında, on binlerle birlikte aynı coşkuyu paylaşmak bizim için tarifsizdi. Sokaklarda başlayan heyecan, Osman Gazi ve Orhan Gazi’nin türbe ziyaretiyle anlam kazandı.Bu büyük ilgi için tüm yetkililere ve kadirşinas Bursa halkına teşekkür ederiz. pic.twitter.com/d1ScAeRKGD
— Kuruluş Dizisi (@KurulusDizisi) April 4, 2026
The team wrote on the official social media handle of Kuruluş Orhan, “It was indescribable to share this enthusiasm with tens of thousands of people. The excitement that began in the streets gained deeper meaning with the visit to the shrine of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi.
“Our greatest joy is to meet everyone with the same passion and excitement while walking in the footsteps of history. We sincerely thank all the authorities and the people of Bursa for their tremendous interest and warm hospitality.”
The Panorama 1326 Bursa Conquest Museum, opened in 2019 with the participation of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, offers the world’s largest fully panoramic experience depicting Bursa’s role as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The museum’s exhibits, curated under the guidance of expert academics, have become a focal point for history enthusiasts and tourists alike.
With exhibitions, symposiums, cultural walks, and educational programs planned throughout 2026, organizers hope the celebrations will ensure that Bursa’s rich Ottoman heritage continues to inspire and educate future generations.
The conquest of Bursa in 1326 by Orhan Bey was a turning point in the early expansion of the Ottoman state, transforming a small frontier principality into a rising regional power. Seven centuries later, this historic milestone is being commemorated throughout 2026 with a series of cultural, academic, and public events, highlighting both the conquest’s historical significance and Bursa’s lasting importance in Ottoman history.
📌 Bursa 700. Yıl | Fetihten Medeniyete
Bursa’nın fethi, yalnızca bir şehrin kazanılması değil; bir medeniyetin filizlenişidir. Bu kutlu zafer, tarih sahnesinde yeni bir dönemin başlangıcını simgeler.
Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığımız ile Bursa Valiliğimiz tarafından düzenlenen… pic.twitter.com/aaP60pM00x
— Mustafa YAVUZ (@mustafa_yavuz16) April 4, 2026
Bursa, situated in northwestern Türkiye near the Sea of Marmara, was the first major city captured by the Ottomans and subsequently became the empire’s first capital. Its fall ended Byzantine influence across much of the southern Marmara region and brought key trade routes and economic networks under Ottoman control.
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