The 14th International Conquest Cup (Fetih Kupası), one of the world's largest archery events, was held in Istanbul from 3 to 7 June 2026, bringing together more than 700 athletes from 51 countries at the historic Okmeydanı Archers Foundation facilities.
Istanbul, Türkiye – June 2026
Organized to commemorate the anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul, the event once again transformed the city into an international meeting point for athletes, cultural practitioners, and archery enthusiasts from across the globe.
First launched in 2013, the Conquest Cup has evolved into a major international gathering that combines elite-level competition with the preservation and promotion of traditional archery heritage. Over the years, it has become one of the most recognized archery events in the region, attracting participants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. The 2026 edition featured competitions in both modern and traditional archery disciplines and was included in the World Archery international calendar as a world ranking event.
Hosted at the historic Okmeydanı grounds, a site closely associated with centuries of Ottoman archery tradition, the tournament highlighted the enduring cultural significance of archery in the wider Eurasian region. Alongside modern recurve and compound competitions, the event also featured traditional categories such as Puta, Flight Shooting, and Zhamby, reflecting the diverse archery traditions preserved across different societies.
Particularly noteworthy was the inclusion of traditional archery disciplines such as Zhamby, a form of target archery deeply associated with the nomadic heritage of the Kazakh steppes. Its presence alongside other traditional categories highlighted the rich diversity of archery traditions preserved across different regions and cultural traditions.
The tournament carried particular relevance for the ECO region, where archery forms part of the broader heritage of traditional sports and games. The event highlighted a shared cultural legacy rooted in the historical traditions of societies stretching from Anatolia and the Iranian Plateau to Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkistan, where archery has been practiced and celebrated for centuries in various forms. The inclusion of traditional disciplines associated with Central Asian cultural heritage further underscored these historical connections.
Beyond the competitions themselves, the Conquest Cup contributed to the international promotion of Istanbul as a city where history, culture, and contemporary international events intersect. Bringing together participants from dozens of countries in one of the world's most historically significant cities, the tournament demonstrated how traditional sports can serve as effective instruments for cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and people-to-people interaction.
As the event entered its second decade, the International Conquest Cup continued to showcase the capacity of traditional sports to connect communities across borders while preserving cultural practices that remain an important part of the heritage of many societies throughout the ECO region and the wider Eurasian cultural space.