International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival

Göreş we alyş halkara ýaryşy

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Sports & AdventureAshgabat

DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking

Duration2 daysListed event span

Crowd-Public scale varies

Best forCompetition, enduranceA recent documented edition, held April 22

LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: TMT

CategorySports & AdventureFestival type

The story

International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival in Ashgabat

Officially titled a Tournament rather than a Festival by Turkmen sports authorities, this event brings together goresh, Turkmen national jacket wrestling, and alysh, a Central Asian belt-wrestling discipline, drawing athletes from thirteen countries to Ashgabat's Olympic Village Martial Arts Sports Complex for a two-day competition.

This event is officially designated by Turkmenistan's State Committee for Sports as the International Tournament on National Wrestling Goresh and Belt Wrestling Alysh, a naming detail worth flagging since the canonical Festival framing used in this content pipeline does not match the event's own official terminology.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

A recent documented edition, held April 22 to 25, 2025, drew wrestlers from thirteen countries including Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Georgia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Turkmen athletes winning 28 total medals across both disciplines

The mystery stays covered

Goresh is Turkmenistan's own national jacket and belt wrestling style with ancient roots passed down through generations, while alysh is a related but distinct belt-wrestling discipline whose modern international competitive form was codified in 2001 by Kyrgyzstani sports official Bayaman Erkinbayev

The city starts moving

belt-wrestling federation sourcing traces the broader discipline's lineage back thousands of years via archaeological finds, a claim from wrestling-federation history rather than independently verified archaeology

The water draws everyone in

Notably, official Turkmen sources consistently call the event a Tournament, not a Festival, a naming discrepancy worth flagging

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Goresh is Turkmenistan's traditional national jacket and belt wrestling style with ancient roots passed down through generations

Water and renewal

Living ritual

alysh is a related belt-wrestling discipline with Turkic-nomadic origins

The sacred route

Living ritual

given its modern codified international competitive form in 2001

The local code

Living ritual

and both are practiced together at this event as expressions of Central Asian wrestling heritage

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Plan arrival around the route or course in Ashgabat; closures can make normal travel slower.

What to wear

Casual spectator attire is fine; competitors wear discipline-specific gear, goresh jackets for goresh and belt-wrestling uniforms for alysh, but general visitors need no special dress beyond...

Safety

International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival is easier when spectators give competitors, vehicles and staff room to work.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Ashgabat you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

TMT

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map37.95 N, 58.38 E Open in Google Maps

Ashgabat, Central Asia, Turkmenistan

Nearest airportASB — Ashgabat

TransportPlan arrival around the route or course in Ashgabat; closures can make normal travel slower.

Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Ashgabat you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Ashgabat via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near Ashgabat, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare fares Festival gearCasual spectator attire is fine; competitors wear discipline-specific gear, goresh jackets for goresh and belt-wrestling uniforms for alysh, but general visitors need no special dress beyond comfortable indoor arena clothing.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Turkmenistan and apply online.Check entry rules Travel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival?

International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival is listed for Past edition: 23–24 April 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Ashgabat, Central Asia, Turkmenistan

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLturkmenistan.gov.tm

Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →

SourceSource link available

Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April

Source statusOfficial source linked

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →

International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival

International Goresh and Alysh Wrestling Festival in Ashgabat

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The city starts moving

The water draws everyone in

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

Ashgabat, Central Asia, Turkmenistan

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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