Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), has announced that Riyadh Season will host the 2026 Ethnosport Cultural Festival in Riyadh next November. Riyadh Season will also sponsor the festival’s 2027 edition, which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, in May 2027.
The announcement came during a signing ceremony held in Istanbul and attended by Alalshikh and Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Ethnosport Union. The agreements formalize Riyadh Season’s hosting of the 2026 festival in Riyadh and its sponsorship of the 2027 edition in Istanbul.
Alalshikh said the festival’s arrival in Riyadh next November would include a major surprise for audiences. He also highlighted his cooperation with Erdoğan, confirming that the partnership would continue in 2027 through Riyadh Season’s sponsorship of the Istanbul edition.
He described the agreement as the beginning of further cooperation in the coming period, expressing his satisfaction with the progress achieved in a short time and commending the efforts that helped make the partnership successful.
Organized by the World Ethnosport Union, the annual festival brings together participants from around the world for a variety of traditional sports competitions and cultural experiences. The event attracts audiences of all ages.
Hosting the festival in Riyadh further supports the season’s efforts to bring major international events and diverse experiences to the Kingdom. Sponsoring the 2027 edition in Istanbul will also expand Riyadh Season’s international profile and introduce its brand to new audiences and markets worldwide.
Ethnosports comprise traditional disciplines with deep historical roots and strong popular appeal in numerous countries. They include traditional archery, falconry, wrestling, equestrian sports, and other competitions connected to the cultural heritage of different peoples.
These sports enjoy particular popularity in Türkiye, which hosts Ethnosport events with extensive international participation. As a result, Istanbul has become one of the festival’s leading destinations and a key city associated with its activities.
Further details about the festival and its accompanying events will be announced later.
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