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Witness / Attend in EdirneTR
The old Ottoman capital on the Greek border, home of Selimiye Mosque and Kirkpinar: the world's oldest continuously running sporting competition, contested in olive oil since the 1360s.
Organized by Edirne Municipality, which publishes the official dates and program.
Dates & details verified against: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage ↗
Why here
Kirkpinar is the world's oldest continuously running sporting competition: oil wrestling contested since the 1360s, more than 660 editions, inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage and staged by Edirne's municipality at the historic Sarayici Er Meydani since 1946. The spectacle is singular, around two tons of olive oil, leather kispet trousers, drummers and zurna players driving the bouts, and the golden belt going to the baspehlivan at the July finals. Edirne itself, the old Ottoman capital with Sinan's Selimiye Mosque, another UNESCO site, makes the trip more than the tournament. Tickets are cheap and the crowd is Turkey, not tourism.
Best months
Held annually in late June to early July; the 2026 edition, the 665th, runs its finals July 3-5 after a festival week from June 29. Thracian summer heat is part of the experience. Tickets sell locally and through municipal channels; the festival week includes concerts and processions beyond the wrestling.
Getting there & around
Edirne is about 2.5 hours by road from Istanbul, near the Greek and Bulgarian borders. Day-trip from Istanbul or stay locally; book festival-week rooms ahead.
Skill levels: beginner
Schools & guides (0)
No curated providers here yet.