Sports & Events Türkiye closes its first edition in Antalya with 1,136 preprogrammed meetings

Antalya was the setting chosen to open a new chapter in the Sports & Events universe. After consolidating its European format, the brand has launched its first regional edition in Turkey with a very clear proposal: to put the country’s local offer in contact with international buyers through pre-scheduled meetings, technical visits, sports activities and destination experiences.

The first edition of Sports & Events Türkiye was held from May 31 to June 3, 2026 and brought together 120 participants from 27 countries, including 49 international buyers and 45 Turkish suppliers. In total, 1,136 pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings were held, a figure that confirms the international market’s interest in Turkey as a destination for sports events, rallies, active incentive travel and sports-related experiences.

The event also recorded 599 messages exchanged, 521 interactions in the group chat and 1,436 contacts scanned, data that reflect how networking went beyond the formal agenda of meetings and extended to the social spaces, activities and moments of conviviality of the program.

A format focused on Turkish suppliers and international buyers

The main particularity of this first edition was its local-global approach. Unlike other meetings of a broader nature, Sports & Events Türkiye was designed as a platform for Turkish suppliers to present their offerings to international buyers specialized in the sports and events sector.

The format maintained the B2B workshop structure, with 1-on-1 meetings at the Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel convention center, but also incorporated an experiential program designed to showcase the real potential of the destination. The aim was not only to explain what Antalya has to offer, but also to take participants to experience it: sports facilities, hotels, outdoor routes, event venues, local gastronomy and activities linked to the territory.

The Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel served as the main venue for the meeting. A large part of the meetings, lunches, dinners and activities were held there, making it the meeting point for buyers, suppliers and participating entities during the four-day program. And Regnum The Crown put the finishing touch, organizing the event’s farewell gala on its magnificent terrace.

Antalya as a sports and experiential destination

Beyond the figures, the first edition of Sports & Events Türkiye served as a showcase for Antalya’s positioning in sports tourism. The city combines hotel infrastructure, sports facilities, climate, coastline, heritage and an offer of activities that allows the design of professional programs with a high experiential component.

The event showed precisely this dual dimension: on the one hand, the destination’s capacity to host B2B meetings and corporate programs; on the other, its potential to generate active experiences linked to sports, nature, culture and gastronomy.