The Ethnosport Cultural Festival will take place in Riyadh in November 2026 as part of Riyadh Season.
The event is organised by the World Ethnosport Union and celebrates traditional sports and cultural heritage.
Activities associated with ethnosport include traditional archery, falconry, wrestling and equestrian disciplines.
The 2026 Ethnosport Cultural Festival is coming to Riyadh this November as part of Riyadh Season.
Every year, Riyadh Season brings a packed calendar of entertainment to the Saudi capital. While the full 2026 lineup is yet to be announced, one event has already been confirmed. The 2026 Ethnosport Cultural Festival is coming to Riyadh this November as part of Riyadh Season.
Organised by the World Ethnosport Union, the festival will bring traditional sports and cultural experiences from around the world to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Season will also sponsor the 2027 edition, which will take place in Istanbul, Turkiye, in May 2027. The announcement was made in Istanbul during a signing ceremony attended by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, and Bilal Erdogan, President of the World Ethnosport Union.
Dünyanın dört bir yanından gelen geleneksel sporları ve kültürleri bir araya getiren Riyad Sezonu, Ethnosport Festivali 2026’ya ev sahipliği yapıyor ve 2027’de İstanbul’da düzenlenecek organizasyona sponsor oluyor 😎❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZwVLjwZrCk
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) September 17, 2026
For those unversed, ethnosport refers to traditional sports and games rooted in the cultures and identities of the communities where they originated. Unlike modern sports, where winning is often the main focus, these activities are also about preserving heritage, passing down skills and keeping cultural traditions alive.
Traditional archery, falconry, wrestling and equestrian sports are among the disciplines associated with ethnosport around the world. While the full programme for the Ethnosport Cultural Festival in Riyadh has not yet been announced, visitors can expect an event centred on traditional sporting practices and cultural experiences from different countries.
The festival is also designed to appeal to all ages, making it as much a cultural experience as a sporting event. Alongside competitions, it offers an opportunity to discover the traditions, stories and skills behind different forms of sport.
For Riyadh Season, hosting the 2026 festival adds another international event to the capital’s growing calendar, while the 2027 sponsorship in Istanbul extends the partnership beyond Saudi Arabia. Further details, including the exact dates, programme and accompanying activities for the Saudi edition, will be announced later. For now, Riyadh is getting ready to welcome a different kind of sporting spectacle where culture and tradition take centre stage.
Contact: https://riyadhseason.com