Edirne Readies Two Tons of Olive Oil for Kırkpınar

Edirne is preparing to host the 665th edition of Kırkpınar, Turkey’s centuries-old oil wrestling festival, with two tons of olive oil delivered to the arena ahead of the July competition.

The olive oil, supplied by Trakya Birlik, was received by Edirne Municipality teams and moved into storage before the wrestlers arrive at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı, the historic field where the event will be held from July 3 to 5.

According to Haberler, the oil will be used to coat wrestlers before they enter the meadow, a defining feature of the sport that gives Kırkpınar its distinctive look and tactical complexity.

Oil wrestling, known in Turkish as yağlı güreş, requires competitors to grapple while wearing traditional leather trousers called kispet. The oil makes holds harder to secure, placing a premium on endurance, timing and technique.

See Also: Kırkpınar Winners

This year’s competition is expected to feature 40 başpehlivans, or chief wrestlers, competing in the top division under a single-elimination format, according to local reports. The title remains among the most prestigious honors in traditional Turkish sport.

The annual festival has deep roots in Turkey and is closely associated with Edirne, the former Ottoman capital near the Greek and Bulgarian borders. The event is commonly traced to the 14th century and remains one of the country’s most visible expressions of living sporting heritage.

Kırkpınar was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, recognizing not only the wrestling but also the rituals, music, ceremonies and master-apprentice traditions surrounding the festival.

For Edirne, the arrival of the olive oil is among the final signs that the city is ready for the annual gathering. Preparations at Sarayiçi include the field, stands and competition areas that will host wrestlers, spectators and officials over the three-day event.

The use of olive oil also gives Kırkpınar a rare place in the broader history of the product. While olive oil is most often associated with food, health and Mediterranean agriculture, in Edirne it becomes part of a demanding athletic ritual that has survived for generations.

The festival’s endurance has made it a touchstone of Turkish culture, drawing wrestlers from across the country and preserving a tradition that continues to engage both younger competitors and established champions.

Last year’s 664th edition drew attention for the participation of young wrestlers alongside veteran competitors, underscoring how the sport is passed from one generation to the next. Orhan Okulu won the top title in 2025, claiming his third Kırkpınar championship.

With two tons of olive oil now in place, Edirne’s focus turns to the opening bouts and the crowning of a new başpehlivan at one of the world’s most unusual and enduring festivals.