Learn Spanish (Spain): Ahora es mi turno.

Ahora means 'now'. While words like primero (first) and después (after) set up a sequence, ahora often acts as the bridge to the present moment. In games or conversations, you might hear sequences like Primero tú, y ahora es mi turno (First you, and now it is my turn).

Why do we use es instead of está if a turn is only temporary?

It is a common rule of thumb that estar is for temporary things, but identifying who or what something belongs to always uses ser. Since you are identifying that the turn belongs to you, you must use es (from ser).

Can turno also mean a shift at work?

Yes! While in this sentence turno means your turn in a game or a line, it is also the standard word for a work shift. For example, you might work el turno de noche (the night shift).

Do I always need to include the word ahora?

No, you can just say Es mi turno (It is my turn). Adding ahora emphasizes the sequence or change of events, making it clear that someone else's turn has just finished and yours has begun.