Riyadh Season will host the 2026 Ethnosport Cultural Festival in Riyadh this November and sponsor the festival’s 2027 edition in Istanbul, Türkiye, in May, Saudi General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh announced.
The agreements were signed in Istanbul during a ceremony
attended by Alalshikh and Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Ethnosport
Union.
Alalshikh said the Riyadh edition will include a major
surprise for audiences and described the partnership as the beginning of
further cooperation between Riyadh Season and the union.
Organized annually by the World Ethnosport Union, the
international festival brings together participants from multiple countries for
traditional sports competitions and cultural experiences.
Events include traditional archery, falconry, wrestling and
equestrian sports, reflecting sporting traditions rooted in different
societies.
Alalshikh said hosting the festival in Riyadh will
strengthen Riyadh Season’s role in bringing international events and
experiences to Saudi Arabia.
Sponsoring the 2027 Istanbul edition will also expand Riyadh
Season’s international presence and introduce its brand to audiences in new
markets.
The partnership reflects growing cooperation between Riyadh
and Istanbul around traditional sports and cultural events.
Türkiye has a strong presence in the ethnosports movement
and hosts major events with international participation.
Further details on the dates, programme and accompanying
activities for the 2026 festival in Riyadh will be announced later. -TradeArabia News Service