21.05.2026 13:21
The 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival, held at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, opened with the Gülbank tradition and a Mehteran performance. Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation, stated that during the 4-day festival, children and families will come together through traditional sports and cultural activities.
The 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival, organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation, has started welcoming visitors at Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
MEHTERAN TEAM TOOK THE STAGE
The opening of the festival, which will take place this year on May 21-24, was held with a performance by students accompanied by the Gülbank tradition in front of the Khan Tent set up at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Afterwards, the Istanbul Historical Turkish Music Ensemble's mehteran team took the stage.
Speaking at the opening, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation Bilal Erdogan said that cultural riches will be experienced together throughout the festival. Greeting visitors, Erdogan noted that various events, especially wrestling and equestrian sports, will be held during the festival.
"WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE RICHES OF OUR CULTURE TOGETHER"
Erdogan, stating that children and families will meet traditional culture in the events within the festival, said, "This year again, we will experience the riches of our culture together for 4 days here. We will breathe the scent and atmosphere of tradition as a family with our children and elders, and we will host guest artists, athletes, and cultural figures from all over the world together. The children who come here today will experience and feel how valuable and meaningful cultural richness is."
Drawing attention to Istanbul's international importance, Erdogan, after the speeches, cut the ribbon with the children and opened the festival.