Dozens of people – mostly Alevis – gathering for a cultural event were killed when protestors set fire to the hotel in which they were meeting. Two of the attackers also died in the blaze.
The victims had gathered to celebrate the life of famous poet Pir Sultan Abdal when angry protesters surrounded and attacked the hotel.
Thousands of people carrying photos of the victims – which included many leftists, writers, artists and intellectuals – held a march on Thursday and gathered around site of the former Madimak Hotel, which is now a state science and culture center.
Turkish media reports said the leader of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu and his wife Selvi would attend the commemoration with a delegation.
Earlier in the day, Sivas Governor Alim Barut and Acting Mayor Erdal Karaca visited the site with other officials and laid carnations in memory of the victims.
"July 2, 1993 is marked in Sivas residents' memory as a black day with full of grief," said Barut, adding that the fire at the hotel also set fire to the future of Sivas.
Hidayet Yildirim, the head of Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association, said it was essential to make Madimak Hotel a "shame museum" to recognize the Alevi community's demands for democracy and justice.
"Our hearts are once again filled with grief and pain on the 22nd anniversary of the massacre at Madimak," Yildirim said in Sivas' Cumhuriyet Square.
In July 2014, Turkey presidency's State Auditing Board (DDK) issued a report that found grave negligence by the state in the handling of the incident.
According to the report, Turkey failed to take adequate safety precautions in the region to prevent this social crisis that could have been clearly anticipated considering the profile of the demonstrators.
