665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival

Edirne will become the heart of Türkiye’s living sports heritage on July 3–5, 2026, as the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival takes place at the legendary Kırkpınar Er Meydanı in Sarayiçi. This is not just a wrestling event. It is one of the most powerful cultural traditions in the country, where sport, ritual, music, pride, and centuries of memory meet on the same field.

A total of 840 pehlivans, including 40 başpehlivans, will compete across age and weight categories ranging from the youngest divisions to the prestigious baş category. The action will be raw, tactical, and deeply physical. But Kırkpınar is also about atmosphere: the sound of drums and zurna, the ceremonial calls, the peşrev, the historic rituals, and the intensity of a crowd that understands every grip, every move, and every moment.

Edirne will make the experience even richer. Between matches, visitors can explore the city’s imperial heritage, walk toward the masterpiece silhouette of Selimiye, and taste local classics such as Edirne tava ciğeri, almond paste, and traditional flavors shaped by the city’s Balkan spirit. Even if you have never watched oil wrestling before, you will still want to be here—because Kırkpınar is not something you simply watch; it is something you feel, hear, taste, and remember long after leaving Edirne.