Victory Day (Turkish: Zafer Bayramı), or Turkish Armed Forces Day, is a public holiday in Turkey that commemorates the decisive victory at the Battle of Dumlupınar on August 30, 1922.
The festival celebrates the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, the final battle of the Greco-Turkish War, on August 30, 1922. Following the fight, Greece's military participation in Anatolia came to an end. Victory Day has been an official holiday since 1926, with the inaugural celebration on August 30, 1923.
Victory Day is a commemoration of the Turkish Armed Forces that takes place throughout Turkiye and Northern Cyprus. The primary event takes place in Anıtkabir in Ankara, with the President of Turkiye leading authorities in laying wreaths and delivering the keynote address.
One of the largest memorial events is conducted at the War Academy in Istanbul, with all military promotions made on this day, while parades are staged in key towns around the country. Ankara is also conducting a national parade in honour of the occasion, which is now on a limited scale. Previously, the national parade, which included the President, was one of the largest in Eurasia. August 30 is also the customary day for military school graduation ceremonies in Turkiye; however, in recent years, the actual date has been earlier. The Turkish Stars performed an airshow above Dumlupınar. In the evening, large towns host holiday performances to honour the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. The President of Turkiye, serving as Commander-in-Chief, holds an event at the Presidential Complex.
