The 665th Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival returns to Edirne in early July 2027. Exact dates have not been officially announced at time of writing - the festival typically takes place in the first week of July, and based on the 2026 edition running 29 June to 5 July, the 2027 dates are expected to fall approximately 1-7 July. Official confirmation from the organisers is typically announced in April.
Kırkpınar holds UNESCO inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is considered the world’s oldest continually held sporting event, with records tracing the festival back to 1346.
What Kırkpınar Is
Kırkpınar (meaning “forty springs”) is yağlı güreş - traditional oil wrestling. Competitors wearing leather shorts called kispet douse themselves in olive oil before grappling for the title of Başpehlivan (chief wrestler). Matches take place at Sarayiçi Kirkpinar Stadium on the banks of the Tunca River outside Edirne’s centre. The tournament runs across seven days, with hundreds of wrestlers competing across different weight categories from the opening ceremony through to the championship final.
The Festival Atmosphere
Beyond the competition, Kırkpınar is a full cultural event. The streets of Edirne fill with folk music, davul (drum) and zurna (double-reed flute) ensembles, market stalls, traditional food vendors, and ceremonial processions. The ceremonial davul-zurna opening of each day’s competition is one of the more distinctive experiences in Turkish cultural travel.
The 665th edition in 2027 carries historic significance: a milestone tournament number in a lineage that runs nearly seven centuries without interruption.
Visiting Edirne
Edirne sits near the Greek and Bulgarian borders in Thrace, about 230 kilometres northwest of Istanbul. Buses run regularly from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar bus terminal (around two and a half hours). Driving from Istanbul follows the E80 motorway. The Selimiye Mosque - a masterwork of Ottoman architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is in the city centre and worth combining with the festival visit.
Accommodation in Edirne itself is limited; book well in advance for festival week. Istanbul is a practical base for day-trip visitors, though the long days of competition make an overnight stay worthwhile.
Combining with Other Turkey Travel
Edirne makes a natural stop on a route between Istanbul and Bulgaria or Greece. Our Turkey travel guide covers transport and logistics for reaching the country. For tours from Istanbul including day trips and regional excursions, book early for July as demand is high across the country during summer.