What will the Apple Developer Academy in Istanbul offer?

What has Apple announced for Türkiye?

On 9 November 2026, Apple announced plans for five Developer Academies across Türkiye over the following three years. The first is due to open in Istanbul in 2027.

• 2027 · The first Apple Developer Academy opens in Istanbul.
• 2027 · A separate Apple Developer Center also opens in Istanbul.
• 2028 · Ankara is due to get an Apple Manufacturing Academy that will support smaller businesses with training in areas including AI and smart manufacturing.

Why Istanbul?

Apple describes the national investment as a way to expand access to training and experts in a country whose developers already build apps used around the world. Its announcement gives the location of the first academy without setting out the criteria used to select Istanbul.

Apple’s October 2026 events schedule already listed an in-person app workshop in Istanbul. That existing contact with local developers offers context for the decision to open both training and developer facilities in the city in the same year.

How does the Academy differ from the Developer Center?

The Academy is a structured programme that gives learners months to practise app development. The Developer Center will offer events, workshops and one-to-one appointments with Apple experts for developers and teams at different stages. Follow the Academy for the training programme and the Center for individual sessions or a specific technical topic.

When can you apply in Istanbul?

As of 10 November 2026, the official pages we reviewed did not show a dedicated Istanbul application link. Apple’s Türkiye announcement has yet to specify the application dates, eligibility, cohort size, teaching language, campus address or any local partner. The Apple Developer Academies directory and Apple’s Türkiye announcements are the places to check as details are released.

How can you prepare now?

Choose a small iPhone project, such as a screen for tracking a habit or a number puzzle with one playable level. A narrow scope gives you room to practise design, coding and testing on the same project.

• Build one screen and one complete task flow with Swift and SwiftUI.
• Try it on an iPhone. Check whether you can complete the task with larger text and with VoiceOver.
• Ask two people to try the task without instructions. Keep your notes, two screenshots and a one-minute demo for your portfolio.

What appeared on social media and in the press?

On 8 November, Apple Executive Chair Tim Cook posted on X about meeting creator Cem Başak at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Başak shared a video from the same visit on Instagram with an advertising tag. NTV’s interview and Anadolu Agency’s reporting provide further context. The schedule and curriculum in this guide come from Apple’s 9 November announcement.

Image credits

The cover shows the Galata Bridge in 2025. The coding photograph is an illustrative file image. Both were resized for the web and converted to WebP. Apple’s Detroit story has photographs of a separate, operating Developer Academy.