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The Great Hun-Turkic Kurultaj opened in Bugac, Hungary, bringing together representatives from more than 27 Turkic communities for three days of traditional sports, music, handicrafts and cultural events, while newly uncovered archaeological finds and anthropological facial reconstructions are being shown for the first time.
Organized by the Hungarian Turan Foundation in the Bacs-Kiskun region, the gathering aims to showcase the traditional cultures, historical heritage and shared values of communities with Hun and Turkic roots.
The Kurultaj is presented by its organizers as a cultural festival that seeks to preserve and revive ancient Hungarian and other nomadic traditions.
Participation in the three-day event is free.
One of this year's main attractions is the exhibition "From Ordos to Orseg: Treasures of the Huns, Turks and Hungarians," set up inside the Attila Tent.
The exhibition brings together discoveries from some of the latest excavations, including newly uncovered treasures presented through cooperation between the Turkic Academy and the Hungarian National Museum.
Anthropological facial reconstructions produced with advanced technology are also going on display for the first time at this year's Kurultaj, adding a new dimension to the festival's focus on historical heritage.
The wider program brings traditional steppe culture to life through horseback games, archery demonstrations, acrobatic mounted combat displays, Hun-period tents, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural activities.
Traditional music is being performed across stages and national tents, while visitors can also try traditional archery. Folk dances, music from across the Turkic world and food from several countries round out the program.
Participants wearing traditional clothing have gathered beneath the flags of Turkic states, while some visitors have set up their own tents and are camping at the festival grounds.
The program will also feature Arslanbek Sultanbekov and his orchestra performing heroic folk songs, alongside events titled "Fiery Warriors of Turan," a military parade and "Rain of Arrows." Award ceremonies will be held for competition winners before the 2026 gathering closes with the lighting of a traditional Sacred Fire.
Can Coskun, a teacher who traveled from Türkiye, said seeing traces of Hun history in the region carried particular importance for him. Having previously spent five years teaching in Kyrgyzstan, Coskun said that experience had allowed him to get to know the Turkic world more closely and encouraged him to follow its historical traces in Hungary.
"I am very excited and happy. In my view, everyone who feels Turkish and feels that the Turkish language has a culture should come here regardless of their political views. They should see this mosaic and experience this atmosphere. Politics will not speak here; culture will speak. Folklore will speak, and the traces of Turkish history will speak. I am here to feel these things," Coskun said.
Student Atakan Aysan, who traveled from Istanbul, said the gathering brought different historical traditions together and strengthened a sense of unity through costumes, music, talks, games and dances.
Omer Tugrul Erdem likewise said he was proud to take part and described the gathering of people from different Turkic communities as a family-like experience, adding that he was also proud to represent Türkiye.
The Kurultaj's official opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, with AK Party Deputy Chair and Head of Relations with Turkic States Kursad Zorlu, Organization of Turkic States Secretary-General Kubanichbek Omuraliyev and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency President Abdullah Eren expected to attend.
The first Turkic-Hun Kurultaj was held in Kazakhstan in 2007. Larger gatherings later organized in Hungary attracted growing interest and developed into a tradition aimed at keeping cultural connections and shared heritage among Hun and Turkic communities alive.
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