A Gaza-raised voice in a Maslak arena
Saint Levant plays Volkswagen Arena on December 10, 2026. It is a Thursday night in early winter, in a business district of glass towers north of the old city.
The Palestinian-French rapper, born Marwan Abdelhamid, grew up between Jerusalem, Gaza and Amman. His songs move between Arabic, English and French, sometimes inside a single verse. “Very Few Friends” made his name in 2022, and “From Gaza, With Love” turned him into a voice for a generation of the diaspora.
His 2024 album Deira pushed that blend further, with Arab pop and North African rhythms under the rap. Expect a crowd that sings the Arabic hooks louder than the English ones.
The room: Volkswagen Arena
The venue is a purpose-built indoor concert hall inside Uniq Istanbul, a cultural complex in Ayazağa, Sarıyer district. It opened in 2017 and has since become one of the city’s main stops for touring international acts.
Inside it is a single large black box: a standing floor in front of the stage and raised seating behind. The space is enclosed and heated, which counts for a lot on a December night. Around it, the Uniq grounds hold restaurants and open courtyards that concertgoers usually drift through before and after the show.
Getting to Ayazağa on a weeknight
The metro is the sensible way in. Maslak traffic on a weekday evening is some of the slowest in Istanbul, and taxis from the centre crawl along Büyükdere Avenue.
- M2 metro (green line): ride toward Hacıosman and get off at İTÜ–Ayazağa. From there it is a short walk to Uniq Istanbul.
- From Taksim: M2 runs straight north through Şişli and Levent with no change, usually in under 20 minutes.
- From the old city: take the M2 from Vezneciler or Şişhane, or cross by the T1 tram and the F1 funicular to Taksim, then ride north.
- From the Asian side: the Marmaray rail line links to the M2 at Yenikapı.
After the encore, the station platform fills fast with fans. Many people walk up the line or grab dinner nearby and let the first wave clear.
Tickets, lira and Istanbulkart
The organiser publishes the date, venue and ticket links on its official site. That is also where door times and any age or bag rules for the show live.
On the ground, a few things smooth the night:
- Istanbulkart: the rechargeable transit card works on the metro, tram, ferries and buses. Machines at İTÜ–Ayazağa and every central station top it up.
- Paying: Turkish lira is the currency, and cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including arena bars and Uniq restaurants.
- Tipping: at a sit-down meal, around ten percent is normal. At bars and counters, rounding up is enough.
- Language: “Merhaba” (hello) and “teşekkürler” (thank you) go a long way. Staff at a venue this size usually handle English.
Fans at arena shows in Istanbul typically gather outside well before doors, especially those aiming for the front of the floor.
Dressing for December in Istanbul
Istanbul in early December is cool, damp and often grey. Rain is common and wind off the Bosphorus makes evenings feel colder than the thermometer says.
Attendees usually come in layers that are easy to shed. A packed standing floor gets warm, while the walk back to the metro does not. A cloakroom is not something to count on, so a light jacket that ties around the waist is more practical than a heavy coat.
Making a night of it
Maslak itself is offices and towers, so most visitors stay elsewhere and ride in. Şişli and Nişantaşı sit a few stops south on the M2, with plenty of hotels and late cafés. Taksim and Beyoğlu put you near İstiklal Avenue’s bars for the hours after the show.
If you have a free afternoon, Rumelihisarı, the 15th-century fortress on the Bosphorus shore, is a short taxi ride east of Ayazağa. Bebek’s waterfront promenade sits just south of it, a good place for tea before heading back up the hill to the arena.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is Saint Levant playing in Istanbul?
Saint Levant performs on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at Volkswagen Arena, inside the Uniq Istanbul complex in Maslak/Ayazağa, Sarıyer district, on the European side.
How do I get to Volkswagen Arena by public transport?
Take the M2 metro (green line) toward Hacıosman and get off at İTÜ–Ayazağa, then walk a short distance to Uniq Istanbul. From Taksim the ride is direct with no change. Pay with a rechargeable Istanbulkart.
Where do concertgoers usually stay?
Most stay south along the M2 line in Şişli, Nişantaşı or Taksim/Beyoğlu. All three are on a direct metro ride to İTÜ–Ayazağa and have plenty of late-night food and bars.
Where are tickets and door times published?
The organiser publishes the date, venue and ticket links on its official site. Door times and any entry rules for the show are listed there too.
What is the weather like for a December concert in Istanbul?
Early December is usually cool, damp and windy, often with rain. The arena is indoors and heated, so people tend to wear light layers rather than a heavy coat.
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