Malazgirt Victory 955th anniversary celebrations to feature traditional sports

The 955th anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt, which opened the gates of Anatolia to the Turks, will be commemorated with a series of historical, cultural, and sporting events from August 23 to 26. The celebrations will take place in the Malazgirt Battle Historical National Park and Ahlat, featuring the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The program, organized under the auspices of the Presidency and the Okçular Foundation, includes various traditional Turkish sports competitions. These include archery, mounted archery, kökbörü, and wrestling. Specific events include the Sultan Alparslan Open Air Special Puta Race and the TGASDF Mounted Archery 2026 Turkey Championship Finals in Malazgirt, as well as the TGASDF Kökbörü League 2026 Final Match in Ahlat.

Preparations at the 238-hectare national park include the establishment of thematic tents representing Turkish tribes, walking areas, and specialized arenas for archery and wrestling. Infrastructure such as cooling systems and shading areas have been installed to accommodate visitors traveling from across the country.