Hîdîrlez 2026: Thousands of Visitors Experience Culture, UNESCO Games, and Ancient Traditions

The 2026 edition of Hîdîrlez, the festival dedicated to the traditions of the Tatar community, organized by the Tatar Democratic Union on Turquoise Beach in the Venus resort, Romania, concluded with record attendance. From May 29th to 31st, the event attracted thousands of visitors from across the country, confirming its leading role in the promotion and protection of intangible cultural heritage.

The event, sponsored by the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO and supported by the Ministry of Culture, celebrated the ancient festival marking the awakening of nature and the arrival of summer, transforming the Black Sea coast into a vast meeting place for cultures, traditions, and generations.

The historical games protagonists of the event

The most popular moments among the audience included the demonstrations and competitions dedicated to traditional games included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage . Children and young people were able to try their hand at disciplines passed down for centuries, such as toguz kumalak, mangala, historical archery, traditional kureş wrestling, and other tests of skill and strength belonging to the Turko-Tatar culture.

The interactive workshops designed to introduce new generations to the traditions and cultural values ​​preserved by the Tatar communities were particularly successful.

Gastronomy and craftsmanship between memory and identity

Ample space was also dedicated to food and wine and traditional crafts. Visitors watched the preparation of plov, a historic Central Asian dish recognized by UNESCO as part of the culinary traditions of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and tasted typical Tatar and Turkish specialties such as şiberek, giantik, sarburma, and kobete.

The welcoming atmosphere was accompanied by the distribution of Turkish tea and coffee, which has also been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013 for its social and symbolic value.

At the same time, workshops on calligraphy and leatherwork were held, offering the public the opportunity to experience firsthand ancient artisanal techniques still preserved today by the Turkish and Tatar communities.

Young people and intercultural dialogue

One of the key aspects of the 2026 edition was the involvement of schools. Thanks to the participation of schools from Bucharest and Prahova County, the festival strengthened its educational mission, promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding through educational activities and experiential workshops.

Also notable was the presence of institutional representatives from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, who emphasized the value of cross-border cultural collaboration as a tool for community cohesion and development.

Music, dances and the ritual of the "ancestral fire"

The event concluded with a multicultural open-air show featuring musicians, singers, and folk groups from the Tatar and Moldavian traditions. The performances continued until the most evocative moment of the entire festival: the lighting of the traditional "ancestral fire."

The final rite, characterized by the three leaps over the flames, represents an ancient symbolic practice linked to purification, the rebirth of nature and the connection with past generations, elements that constitute the spiritual heart of the Hîdîrlez celebration.

A tradition recognized by UNESCO

Traditionally celebrated on May 6th, Hîdîrlez has its roots in a legend that recounts the annual meeting between Hızır and Ilyas, symbolic figures associated with life and water. The holiday is now recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage due to its social, cultural, and identity-building value, which still today unites diverse communities in the spirit of remembrance and sharing.

(jun. mu.)