On July 10, 2020, a Turkish court annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree that had turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for its use again as a mosque after 86-year hiatus.
The monument was restored to its former glory as Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque on July 24, 2020.
Hagia Sophia served as a church for 916 years and 86 years as a museum, but from 1453 to 1934, nearly 500 years, it was a mosque.
In 1985, Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.
