Far from tango's birthplace in working-class districts and port areas of Buenos Aires and Montevideo in Argentina and Uruguay, dance enthusiasts in Istanbul have built a close-knit and passionate community.
Every night, they gather at milongas – sessions of Argentine ballroom dancing – on both sides of this vast city that bridges Europe and Asia, drawn together by music, movement and the embrace of tango.
A couple dances tango next to a portrait of modern Türkiye founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during a milonga evening at La Cumparsita, Istanbul, Türkiye, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo)
Turkish locals, foreign residents, visiting international teachers and travelers keep the dance alive while a multitude of dance schools and studios foster a vibrant tango scene.
Once a beginner and now a tango teacher, Gonca Çetin describes the city's tango community as both diverse and welcoming.
