Venue : Edirne     Date : July

Historical "Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling" is the oldest wrestling festival in the world which has been continuing since the first contests in 1357 in Rumelia.
"Kirkpinar Oil Wresting", which has been bounded with a tradition of almost 650 years, hosts persevering contests for a week, with the active participation of media, folk-dance groups, millions of spectators, artists and statesmen both from Turkey and all over the world, and with a varying array of activities every year.

The enthusiasm, which is brought to life by headwrestling and other forms of wrestling contests, as well as the performances of the "Janissary Band" and local and foreign folk-dance groups throughout the contests, turns "Kirkpinar Oil Wresting" into a traditional festival.
The Historical "Kirkpinar Wrestling" Contests take place in the field referred to as "Sarayiçi Er Meydani" within Sarayiçi. The 646nd contest will take place this year.

The Historical Kirkpinar Wresting Contests, which usually take place at the end of June and at the beginning of July, last 7 days.

Before Kirkpinar Wrestling Contests start, the graves of the wrestlers, Adali Halil and Kara Emin, in Kaleiçi, are visited and a prayer service is conducted. After the visit, the participants go to Sarayiçi Er Meydani at 15:00 and the Historical "Kirkpinar Wrestling" Contest starts with a magnificent ceremony. Individual categories are defined for the wrestlers taking part in the Kirkpinar Wresting Contests..

These categories are: Minik 1, Minik 2, Tesvik, Tozkoparan, Deste Küçük Boy, Deste Orta Boy, Deste Büyük Boy, Küçük Orta Küçük Boy, Küçük Orta Büyük Boy, Büyük Orta, Basalti ve Bas.

On the other hand, the best performance on the entry (peshrev) and the most gentlemanliness in manner are awarded. The wrestlers struggle for 3 days on the Er Meydani. The firsts, seconds and the thirds of every category are defined upon finals held on the last day. However, the most important one among these is the head wrestler.

Approximately 35 wrestlers wrestle for the head wrestler wrestling contests, which progress through very difficult contentions. "Kirkpinar Wrestling" contest is completed with the wrestling that will determine the head wrestler.