Upcoming
Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires
7 Nov 2026 — 9 May 2027 at V&A South Kensington
· London
Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires explores the remarkable continuity and change of a metropolis that has stood at the crossroads of civilizations for millennia.
From its founding as the capital of the Byzantine Empire to its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453 and its reinvention as Istanbul, the exhibition traces the political, cultural, and artistic legacy of a city that shaped the course of world history.
Visitors are invited to discover how two great empires left their mark on the same streets, monuments, and communities — and how that layered heritage continues to resonate today.
From its founding as the capital of the Byzantine Empire to its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453 and its reinvention as Istanbul, the exhibition traces the political, cultural, and artistic legacy of a city that shaped the course of world history.
Visitors are invited to discover how two great empires left their mark on the same streets, monuments, and communities — and how that layered heritage continues to resonate today.
About the venue
V&A South Kensington
· London
The Victoria and Albert Museum in the United Kingdom is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects.
