The World Ethnosport Union, which continues its global activities with the mission of reviving, preserving and transmitting traditional sports and cultures to future generations, is taking a historic step through a collaboration that will further expand the traditional sports ecosystem.

The Ethnosport Culture Festival, the world’s largest gathering of traditional sports and culture, will be held in Riyadh in 2026, hosted by Riyadh Season. Within the scope of this strategic partnership, Riyadh Season will also serve as the main sponsor of the festival to be held in Istanbul.

Traditional Values Are Carried to the Global Stage

Organized by the World Ethnosport Union since 2016, the Ethnosport Culture Festival has become a vibrant celebration of traditional sports and culture through its colorful events. It is the world’s largest festival in terms of participation within the scope of traditional sports and games.

Welcoming more than 1 million visitors each year, the festival takes its guests on an enjoyable journey inspired by traditional sports and cultures. With the participation of hundreds of athletes representing different countries, the festival features traditional sports from around the world, traditional arts, universal flavors and a wide variety of children’s games.

Going beyond a conventional event, this strong organization invites visitors to active participation. While offering the opportunity to experience traditional sports firsthand, the oba areas and thematic experience zones create a cultural atmosphere that is not only watched, but lived.

Having been held in Türkiye with record participation and great success, the festival continues to expand its international reach each year. The festival’s organization in Riyadh in 2026 will strengthen intercultural interaction, while the 2027 gathering in Istanbul, with the valuable support of Riyadh Season, will accelerate the global branding process of traditional sports.

The date range, detailed program and event flow of the 2026 Riyadh Ethnosport Culture Festival, where traditional cultures come together on common ground and support social belonging and cultural continuity, will be shared with the public in the coming days.