Programme

Welcome cocktail & registration
Location: Gallada restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel, Kemankes Caddesi 34, Kemankes Karamustafa Pasa, Beyoglu

Arrival & registration
With global newspapers and of course, coffee.

Meet the Monocle team

Meet your hosts for the day and hear what to be on the lookout for at this year’s Quality of Life conference.

Welcome to Istanbul

The city’s mayor reveals why Istanbul is on the up and his ambitious plans for the metropolis.

How to be a local

We get an explainer on what makes this characterful city tick from the architect behind the interiors of The Peninsula Istanbul, who is also known for being the first woman to design a mosque.

Keeping the peace

To be a nation at the intersection of east and west requires tactful diplomacy. We hear how to navigate relations with tough neighbours, the power of mediation and why dialogue is still best.

Masterclass: architecture

The award-winning architect (and poet and artist) on building with a strong sense of place rooted in local materials and plentiful colour.

Life underwater

We hear from one of the US Navy’s first female submarine officers on what it takes to thrive beneath the waves.

Coffee break

Masterclass: branding

We get a masterclass in everything from corporate branding to national identity – and deliver some takeaway advice too.

‘A Monocle Guide to Hammams’

Making resilient cities

Discover green ways to make better cities.

Who’s in the room?

We reveal some of our delegates’ professions, passions and flight paths.

Top of the hour

Live news from Monocle Radio.

Saving urban heritage

Fed up with seeing Japan’s buildings fall into disrepair, Fujii set up a company to protect historic houses.

Break the cycle

Often the way to deliver meaningful change is by daring to go against the grain. We hear from a politician who was bold enough to pedal-push a cycling and walking revolution, and from an entrepreneur hoping to see his cargo-bicycles change how we deliver our goods.

Culinary masters

MSA has been training kitchen enthusiasts in the culinary arts since its founding in 2004. As one of the world’s leading culinary academies, it understands the power of food to truly transform a city.

Lunch

Things we like

Monocle’s editorial director,Tyler Brûlé, gives a rundown of the people, places and products that have caught his eye, from the quirky to the epic.

How to fix your hair

A hair transplant surgeon shares his top tips for keeping receding hairlines in check, and how it helps brand Türkiye.

Mind the age gap

Ageing doesn’t have to come at a cost to your quality of life. This Swiss hospitality concept is putting community, lifestyle and networking at its core.

‘The Turkish Detective’

We hear why Istanbul is still a city that conjures up intrigue as its geography and social fabric continue to inspire complex narratives in film, literature and beyond.

Made in Türkiye

The people seeking to preserve Turkey’s craft traditions at a time when doing so is more important than ever. And how other countries can learn from their example.

Masterclass: security

How safe do you feel in your city? Hear from a former senior CIA operations officer on navigating complex global security landscapes and crisis environments.

Luxury hospitality

Luxury experts on what it takes to create memorable spaces and exceptional experiences, from health to hospitality, and the trends that you should know about.

The Monocle concierge

Need some travel advice? Our editors answer your questions on hospitality and where to head next.

Coffee break

Revitalising Antakya

We hear from the architects and planners tasked with rebuilding the city of Antakya after a devastating earthquake. But restoring it to its former glory goes beyond the physical; it’s about building communities and delivering a city for the future.

Masterclass: fashion heroes

Meet the founders of Nanushka who are putting Budapest on the fashion map.

Lessons from city leaders

We hear from two mayors who are turning their cities around. Meet the man transforming Morocco’s blue city into a green mecca, and the activist mayor who is committed to creating a child-friendly capital in Albania.

Goodbyes & prizes

Dinner & dancing
Location: The Marmara Esma Sultan,Yıldiz, Muallim Naci Caddesi & Yali Cikmazi 20, Besiktas

City tours
Location: Various

Farewell brunch
Location: Minoa Pera, Evliya Celebi, Medrutiyet Caddesi 99, Beyoglu