24.05.2026 19:20
The 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival, organized under the motto 'The World Is Here,' concluded after a four-day intensive program, bringing together 1.5 million visitors at Istanbul Atatürk Airport. The festival, where traditional sports, cultural heritage, stage performances, world cuisines, and family activities came together in one area, closed on its final day with equestrian sports shows, traditional wrestling, children's activities, and a concert by Ay Yola.
Istanbul Atatürk Airport hosted the 8th Etnospor Culture Festival this year. Held under the motto "The World Is Here," the festival brought together traditional sports, cultural heritage, art events, and world cuisines in one venue over four days, welcoming a total of 1.5 million visitors. The final day of the festival concluded with equestrian sports shows, traditional wrestling, children's activities, and the Ay Yola concert.
TRADITIONAL SPORTS AND AY YOLA CONCERT STOOD OUT ON FINAL DAY
The final day of the Etnospor Culture Festival began with children's festivities, ethnopark activities, and the opening of cultural areas at the festival grounds. Throughout the day, performances of Audaryspak, horseback archery, Tenge Ilu, Kökbörü, Kuşbegilik, Tazy Dogs Shows, Atlı Cirit, Ripka, Lapta, and Tskhenburti were showcased to visitors. While traditional equestrian shows drew great interest, the evening segment of the final program featured a closing celebration with the Ay Yola concert.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül attended the festival's closing ceremony. During the ceremony, plaques and medals were presented to the participating athletes and artists.
WORLD CULTURES MET IN ISTANBUL OVER FOUR DAYS
At the festival held between May 21 and 24, equestrian sports shows, archery activities, a riding area, a wrestling field, the Solidarity Tent, cultural promotion tents, the Etnospor Museum, art workshops, children's playgrounds, Ethnopark activities, universal flavors, and world coffees were open to visitors.
The festival turned into a major gathering where families, along with their children, closely encountered traditional sports, games, and cultural values.
SPORTS INCLUDED FOR THE FIRST TIME DREW ATTENTION
This year, traditional sports such as Ripka, Lapta, Zorkhana, and Tavreli also met the visitors. The festival featured numerous disciplines from archery to equestrian sports, traditional wrestling to strategy games, showcasing the sports cultures of different countries in Istanbul. Turkmen Horses were among the standout performances of the festival.
STAGE PERFORMANCES ELEVATED FESTIVAL ENTHUSIASM
Throughout the festival, music groups, folk dance teams, street shows, and cultural performances met visitors on the main stage and in various event areas. Concerts by Ekin Uzunlar, Kıraç, Dimash, and Ay Yola were among the highlights of the evening programs.
Numerous artists and groups, including the Nippon Taiko Group from Japan, Tennure Artist Anas Aladas from Egypt, Jetisu Sazı and Hassak Ethno Folk from Kazakhstan, Natiq Rhythm Group from Azerbaijan, Vigüela from Spain, and Salamat Sadykova from Kyrgyzstan, added color to the festival stage.
SOLIDARITY, FLAVOR, AND TRADITION MET IN THE SAME VENUE
At the Solidarity Tent set up during the festival, non-governmental organizations carried out social awareness activities. Talks, workshops, and various events were organized to draw attention to human tragedies in oppressed regions, especially Gaza.
Craftsmen displayed their works in the traditional handicrafts area, while culinary cultures from different countries met visitors in the universal flavors section. During the festival, Uzbek pilaf and ashura were offered; flavors from Azerbaijani, Mexican, Bangladeshi, Georgian, Afghan, Lebanese, Tanzanian, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Kazakh, Palestinian, and Bosnian cuisines were featured on the festival grounds.
TRADITION WAS PASSED TO FUTURE GENERATIONS
Organized by the World Ethnosport Association, the festival concluded as a significant event with 1.5 million participants, bringing traditional sports and cultural heritage to wide audiences. The festival, which engaged children through games, young people through sports, and families through culture, art, and culinary areas, once again demonstrated that traditional values can be transmitted not only on stage but as a living experience.
The Etnospor Culture Festival ended with the Ay Yola concert, while Atatürk Airport hosted the world's diverse colors for four days.