Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival

The Kırkpınar oil wrestling festival takes place in Edirne, Türkiye. Thousands of people from different age groups, cultures and regions travel to see Pehlivan (wrestlers) fight for the Kırkpınar Golden Belt and the title of Chief Pehlivan.

Each festival is launched by its patron, the Kırkpınar Aga, in a ceremony featuring forty bands of davul drums and zurna shawms. The golden belt is carried through the city in a procession, followed by prayers recited in the Selimiye Mosque. The wrestling bouts customarily take place at the Men’s Field. The master of ceremonies introduces the Pehlivans to the audience, reciting in verse their names, titles and skills. Next, the oil man oils the wrestlers assisted by the towel holder, before the warm-up exercises and greetings. The wrestlers each wear kıspet, thick trousers made of water buffalo or cow leather. As the wrestling takes place, the drum and shawm bands play the traditional repertoire of the festival.

The dates are set each year by a decision of the Edirne municipal council. The 665th festival ran from 29 June to 5 July 2026, with the oil wrestling bouts on 3, 4 and 5 July at Sarayiçi Er Meydanı.

Wrestling at Kırkpınar is open to men from all cultures, regions and ages without discrimination between religion, language or race. Pehlivans are considered exemplary figures in society with attributes such as generosity, honesty, respectfulness and adherence to traditions and customs. All Pehlivans are trained in the master-apprentice tradition. The festival was inscribed in 2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.