Sibel Tüzün Performs at Guildhall for London Climate Action Week Gala

Turkish-British artist Sibel Tüzün performed at the Guildhall this month as part of the London Climate Action Week Gala, addressing an international audience of government representatives, climate policy practitioners, business leaders and cultural figures at one of the City of London’s most storied civic buildings.

Accompanied by pianist Cem Iyibardakçı, Tüzün drew on her own catalogue alongside works rooted in two of Anatolia’s most enduring poetic traditions: the 13th-century philosopher and poet Rumi, and Aşık Veysel, one of Turkey’s most celebrated folk poets. The programme offered a sustained reflection on humanity’s relationship with nature — a conversation that has occupied Turkish poets and thinkers for centuries, and one that found renewed resonance within the context of the week’s climate agenda.

Abstract works by Turkish-British painter Seçil Erel formed the visual backdrop throughout the performance. Erel’s canvases — concerned with memory, perception, nature and human experience — extended the evening beyond a conventional concert, creating a space where art, philosophy and environmental consciousness met on common ground.

Culture in the Climate Conversation

London Climate Action Week is described as Europe’s largest and one of the world’s leading independent climate gatherings. The annual Guildhall gala brings together senior figures from government, international institutions, finance, academia and civil society, making it one of the most significant convening events in the global climate calendar.

The event took place against a particularly significant backdrop for Turkey. The country is preparing to host COP31, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, and Tüzün’s performance — weaving contemporary music with centuries-old Anatolian verse and abstract visual art — offered an unexpected cultural counterpoint to the policy discussions at the heart of the week. It was a reminder that Turkey’s relationship with the natural world stretches far deeper than the current diplomatic moment.

About Sibel Tüzün

Sibel Tüzün represented Turkey at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens with “Superstar”, a track she both wrote and composed. Based in London, she continues her music career alongside running the Sibel Tuzun Voice Academy London, a practice focused on voice, communication and wellbeing.

The Guildhall appearance is the latest in a series of performances connecting Tüzün’s artistry with international platforms — and a demonstration of how Turkish cultural heritage continues to find new audiences and new relevance in Britain.