Antalya is about to get loud. As Türkiye prepares to host its first U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP31), running Nov. 9-20, the summit isn't just diplomacy — it comes with a full cultural programme, and Turkish pop royalty is fronting the soundtrack.

The big headline act is Tarkan, arguably Türkiye's biggest pop star, who has reworked his 2008 song "Uyan" into an English-language version called "Wake Up" for the conference. The four-minute music video dropped on his YouTube channel on Nov. 1 and quickly racked up over half a million views, climbing the platform's Turkish music charts before arriving on Apple Music on Nov. 6. The visuals lean hard into the message, showing environmental destruction and damage to nature. Tarkan said he made the song to reach a wider audience and push for collective action on the climate crisis, and Environment Minister Murat Kurum publicly thanked him for it.

Tarkan isn't the only one singing. The ministry itself released an English-language track, "Let's COP," in late October, complete with a video showcasing Türkiye's landscapes and heritage. It even travelled internationally: Uganda's Hypers Kids Africa dance group performed to it in a video shared on the official COP31 Türkiye Instagram account.

For anyone in Antalya during the summit, the public side of things happens at the Green Zone in the city's EXPO area — and it's all free. Yalın plays the Türk Telekom Grand Amphitheater on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m., with Ebru Yaşar at the same venue on Nov. 18. The Anadolu Ateşi dance troupe, internationally known for its theatrical fire-and-percussion shows, performs on Nov. 14, and percussionist Burhan Öçal is also on the bill. Beyond the stage, there are more than 1,000 artworks and over 50 outdoor installations dealing with climate, nature and sustainability.

The one practical catch: entry to the Green Zone is free but requires advance registration, so sort that out before turning up. If you're in Antalya mid-November anyway — a shoulder-season sweet spot on the Turquoise Coast — the cultural programme is a genuine bonus on top of the beaches, the old town of Kaleiçi and the Roman ruins scattered around the city.

Whether the songs chart globally or not, Türkiye is clearly treating its first COP as a cultural showcase as much as a diplomatic one. For travellers, that means a rare chance to catch some of the country's biggest live acts and a large-scale art programme without paying a lira.