Ethnosport Culture Festival to Be Held in Riyadh for the First Time

The festival, organized by the World Ethnosport Union, will bring together the traditions of different regions through sports competitions, traditional games, international cuisine, coffee cultures, handicrafts, and music and dance performances. The festival is part of the union's efforts to make traditional sports more visible internationally and to protect cultural heritage.

The union brings together 56 institutional members from 34 countries across five continents. The festival started in 2016 and has grown into an international gathering that brings together traditional sports, games and cultural practices. The program will give visitors the opportunity to closely see the cultural heritage of different communities.

The festival is traditionally held in Türkiye. The ninth festival will take place in Istanbul on 27-30 May 2027, and this edition will be held with the Riyadh Season as its main sponsor. The parties will continue their cooperation in 2027 as well.

The union has also been behind many international events, including the Ethnosport Forums, the International Ethnosport Festival in Uzbekistan and the World Nomad Games. Events organized by member organizations in cities such as Baku, St. Petersburg, Hive and Astana have also brought together sports federations and cultural representatives. The Riyadh festival will carry this work to Saudi Arabia.