🌍 Traditional Sports

📍 Where?
Matches take place in Piazza Santa Croce, in the heart of Florence's historic centre, which is transformed into a sand-covered arena for the occasion.

📅 When?
The tournament takes place in June. The semi-finals are generally held a few days before the final, traditionally played on June 24, the feast day of St John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence.

🚶 How to get there?
Piazza Santa Croce is located in the heart of Florence and can easily be reached on foot from the main attractions in the historic centre.

🎟️ Attending the matches
Tickets are limited and may only go on sale a few days before certain matches. It is advisable to check availability as soon as official ticket sales are announced.

📍 Where?
Hurling is played throughout Ireland. To experience the biggest inter-county matches, Croke Park in Dublin is the iconic home of Gaelic games.

🏟️ Iconic venue
Croke Park hosts the main finals of the Gaelic championships and can welcome more than 80,000 spectators.

📅 When?
The inter-county season mainly runs from spring to summer, with the biggest matches and finals taking place during the summer months.

🚆 How to get there?
Croke Park is located north of Dublin city centre and can be reached on foot or by public transport from the city centre.

🎟️ Attending a match
Tickets for matches at Croke Park must be purchased before arriving at the stadium. Official GAA tickets are available online, including through Ticketmaster Ireland.

📍 Where?
Basque pelota is played in many towns and villages across the French and Spanish Basque Country. To discover the spectacular cesta punta, Biarritz is an excellent place to start.

🏟️ Iconic venue
The Jaï Alaï in Biarritz, located in the Parc des Sports d’Aguiléra, regularly hosts cesta punta matches and competitions.

📅 When?
Matches are organised throughout the year, with a particularly busy programme during the summer season in the Basque Country.

🚌 How to get there?
The Jaï Alaï is located in the Aguiléra district of Biarritz. The venue has parking facilities and can also be reached by public transport.

🎟️ Attending a match
Tickets can be booked online or purchased at the venue depending on the competition. It is advisable to check the schedule before your trip.

📍 Where?
The festival takes place in Edirne, in northwestern Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria.

🏟️ Iconic venue
The matches take place at Kırkpınar Er Meydanı, the historic arena dedicated to the famous oil-wrestling competition.

📅 When?
The festival is held every year in early summer. In 2026, the main competition days take place on July 4 and 5.

🚌 How to get there?
Edirne is located around 240 km west of Istanbul. It can be reached by bus from Istanbul, making Kırkpınar easy to include as part of a trip through Turkey.

🎟️ Attending the matches
Tickets for Kırkpınar are available through Biletix, Ticketmaster Türkiye's official ticketing platform. Booking in advance is recommended for the festival's main competition days.

📍 Where?
Six official grand tournaments are held in Japan each year. Tokyo hosts three of them, while the others take place in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

🏟️ Iconic venue
In Tokyo, the grand tournaments are held at Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the iconic home of sumo located in the Ryōgoku district.

📅 When?
The six grand tournaments take place in January, March, May, July, September and November. Tokyo traditionally hosts the tournaments in January, May and September.

🚆 How to get there?
Ryōgoku Kokugikan is located next to Ryōgoku Station and is easily accessible by public transport from central Tokyo.

🎟️ Attending a tournament
Tickets are sold through the Japan Sumo Association. It is also possible to book selected experiences that include a tournament ticket and the services of a licensed guide.

📍 Where?
Mongolian wrestling can be experienced in different regions of the country, but the main event is the National Naadam held in Ulaanbaatar.

🏟️ Iconic venue
The main wrestling competitions of the National Naadam take place as part of the major celebrations held in the Mongolian capital.

📅 When?
Naadam is celebrated every year in July. The event brings together the festival's three historic disciplines: Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing.

🚕 How to get there?
For travellers, Ulaanbaatar is the easiest gateway for experiencing Naadam. Some competitions and celebrations, however, take place at different venues across the capital and its surrounding areas.

🎟️ Attending Naadam
Access and ticketing arrangements may vary from one edition to another. It is advisable to check the official Naadam information before planning your trip.

📍 Where?
Archery is practised throughout Bhutan. Thimphu, the capital, is one of the most accessible places for travellers to experience a match.

🏟️ Iconic venue
In Thimphu, the Changlimithang area is particularly associated with major sporting events and archery.

📅 When?
Competitions are held at different times throughout the year, particularly during festivals, celebrations and local gatherings.

🚶 How to experience it?
Unlike a major championship held on fixed dates, archery can be experienced at many local competitions. Checking which events are taking place during your stay is often the best option.

🎟️ Attending a competition
Not every competition requires a ticket. Access conditions depend on the tournament or event being held.

📍 Where?
Kok-boru is played in several Central Asian countries, but it holds a particularly important place in Kyrgyzstan.

🏟️ Where can you watch a match?
Major matches are held at racecourses and equestrian grounds, particularly during national celebrations, festivals and large cultural gatherings.

📅 When?
There is no single annual tournament comparable to the major sumo tournaments. Important matches are generally linked to the calendar of national celebrations and events.

🚗 How to experience it?
To attend a match, it is best to identify a tournament or festival before travelling, as some events may take place outside the main cities.

🎟️ Attending a match
Access conditions vary greatly depending on the event. Some matches are part of larger festivals, while others are organised independently.

📍 Where?
Senegalese wrestling is practised in different parts of the country, but Dakar and its surrounding area host many of the biggest professional fights.

🏟️ Where can you watch a fight?
Major bouts are held in arenas and sports venues capable of welcoming several thousand spectators. The exact venue depends on the scheduled fight.

📅 When?
The season includes several major events, but dates are not fixed from one year to the next. Big fights are generally announced throughout the season.

🚕 How to get there?
For travellers, Dakar is the best base for discovering major Laamb events. It is advisable to check the exact venue before travelling to the event.

🎟️ Attending a fight
Ticketing varies depending on the promoter and the event. It is best to check the programme of major fights shortly before your trip.

📍 Where?
Dambe is historically associated with northern Nigeria, where this combat tradition developed within several communities.

🏟️ Where can you watch a fight?
Matches may take place in specially prepared venues, during festivals or as part of events organised by combat-sport promotions.

📅 When?
There is no single regular tourist calendar. Fights are organised at different times of the year depending on competitions and gatherings.

🚗 How to experience it?
The easiest way to attend a fight is to identify a specific event before travelling, as dates and locations may change regularly.

🎟️ Attending a fight
Access arrangements depend on the organiser. Some events can be attended on site, while others may offer dedicated ticketing.

📍 Where?
Tbourida can be experienced in several regions of Morocco during moussems, agricultural festivals, cultural events and national celebrations.

🏟️ Where can you watch Tbourida?
There is no single main arena: performances take place in large equestrian grounds specially prepared for the various festivals and gatherings.

📅 When?
Dates vary depending on the moussem or festival. To include a Tbourida performance in a trip to Morocco, it is best to identify an event taking place during your stay.

🚗 How to experience it?
Marrakech is a good base for exploring Morocco and can provide access to events organised in the surrounding region or elsewhere in the country.

🎟️ Attending a performance
Access conditions depend on each event. Some Tbourida performances are part of major festivals, while others can be attended freely.

📍 Where?
Major competitions are held in several cities across Niger. Dosso, Tahoua and other regional capitals regularly host important tournaments.

🏟️ Iconic venues
In 2026, the President of the Republic Cup was held at the Salma Dan Rani Arena in Dosso. Tahoua is also home to the Hamidine Maidaré Arena, which hosts major wrestling competitions.

📅 When?
The calendar varies depending on the competition. In 2026, the President's Cup took place from April 10 to 12 in Dosso, while other tournaments were held in Tahoua during the year.

🚗 How to experience it?
It is best to first identify the city hosting the championship you wish to attend, then organise your journey according to the official event schedule.

🎟️ Attending the matches
Access conditions may vary depending on the tournament. The schedule and host city should therefore be checked before travelling.

📍 Where?
Lacrosse is particularly popular in Canada and the United States. For travellers looking to attend a game, the National Lacrosse League hosts professional matches in several major North American cities.

🏟️ Where can you watch a game?
Professional teams play in cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Buffalo, Philadelphia and San Diego. The venue therefore depends on the destination you choose.

📅 When?
The National Lacrosse League season mainly runs from late fall through spring, followed by the playoffs in spring.

🚆 How to experience it?
The easiest option is to choose a city with a professional team and check the NLL schedule before your trip.

🎟️ Attending a game
The National Lacrosse League provides ticket links for its teams, making it easy to choose a game based on your destination.

📍 Where?
Palín is mainly associated with Mapuche territories in central and southern Chile, particularly in regions that are home to significant Mapuche communities.

🏞️ Where can you experience a game?
Palín is generally not played in large sports venues. Games may take place as part of community, cultural or traditional gatherings.

📅 When?
There is no fixed tourist season. Games depend on the communities and events organised locally.

🤝 How to experience it?
Palín has an important cultural and social dimension. When a game is open to visitors, it is important to respect the conditions of access and the cultural context defined by the organising community.

🎟️ Attending a game
There is no general ticketing system. The best approach is to look for a locally announced cultural or community event taking place during your stay.

📍 Where?
Capoeira is practised throughout Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is home to numerous schools, rodas and cultural events where travellers can discover this tradition during their stay.

🥁 Where can you experience it?
Rodas may be organised in capoeira schools, cultural spaces, public squares or as part of events and festivals.

📅 When?
Capoeira is practised all year round. The times and locations of rodas depend on individual groups and scheduled events.

🚶 How to experience it?
To watch a roda or try capoeira yourself, it is best to identify a school or event before your visit and check whether the activity is open to visitors.

🎟️ Watching or taking part
Some rodas are free to watch, while organised classes, introductory sessions or performances may require advance booking.

📍 Where?
Jineteada can be experienced in different rural regions of Argentina and Uruguay. One of the best-known events takes place in Jesús María, in Argentina's Córdoba Province.

🏟️ Iconic event
The Festival Nacional de Doma y Folklore de Jesús María brings together equestrian competitions, gaucho traditions, music and performances in a large venue dedicated to the event.

📅 When?
The Jesús María festival is traditionally held in January. Other jineteadas and gaucho festivals take place at different times of the year across Argentina and Uruguay.

🚗 How to get there?
Jesús María is located north of the city of Córdoba. Córdoba therefore makes a convenient base for reaching the festival and discovering this equestrian tradition.

🎟️ Attending the festival
The festival has its own programme and ticketing arrangements for each edition. It is advisable to check the official information before travelling.

📍 Where?
Va'a is practised throughout French Polynesia. Tahiti is an excellent gateway to the sport, while some of the most famous races also connect the Leeward Islands.

🏆 Iconic event
The Hawaiki Nui Va'a is one of the Pacific's major outrigger canoe races. Held over several stages between different islands, it attracts crews and spectators from across French Polynesia.

📅 When?
Competitions take place throughout much of the year. Dates for the major races vary from one edition to another, so it is best to check the calendar before planning your trip.

⛴️ How to experience it?
Depending on the race, starts and finishes may take place on different islands. Check the exact route in advance to organise inter-island transfers and accommodation.

🎟️ Attending a race
Va'a races can often be watched from beaches, waterfronts and designated areas around the start and finish lines. Access conditions depend on each event.

📍 Where?
Waka ama is practised in many regions of New Zealand, with clubs and competitions held on lakes, rivers and coastal waters across the country.

🏟️ Iconic venue
Lake Karāpiro, on the North Island, regularly hosts major national waka ama competitions and is one of the key venues for the sport in New Zealand.

📅 When?
Regattas are organised throughout the year, with several championships and major gatherings included in the national calendar.

🚗 How to experience it?
To attend a competition, it is best to choose a specific event first. Some events take place outside the main cities and may require travelling by car.

🎟️ Attending a regatta
Access depends on the event. Many competitions can be watched from public areas around the water, while some events have their own specific arrangements.

📍 Where?
Modern competitive boomerang throwing can be found in different parts of Australia, generally during specialised competitions and gatherings.

🪃 Where can you experience it?
There is no single major venue or tourist event dedicated to the sport. Competitions require large open spaces and may take place in different locations depending on the organisers.

📅 When?
Sporting events remain occasional. It is therefore best to look for a competition taking place during your trip rather than relying on a regular calendar.

🤝 How to experience it?
To better understand the history of the boomerang, museums, cultural centres and experiences led by Aboriginal communities can also provide useful context and help distinguish modern sporting practice from the many traditional uses of these objects.

🎟️ Attending a competition
Access conditions vary depending on the event. Some competitions may be freely open to the public and therefore have no dedicated ticketing system.

📍 Where?
Surfing is practised throughout the Hawaiian Islands. On Oʻahu, Waikīkī offers an accessible introduction to this culture, while the North Shore is world-famous for its powerful waves.

🌊 Iconic places
Waikīkī is closely associated with the modern history and spread of Hawaiian surfing. The North Shore of Oʻahu, particularly around Haleʻiwa and its famous surf breaks, also hosts major international competitions.

📅 When?
Surfing can be experienced all year round. To see the biggest waves and some of the major competitions on the North Shore, the best period is generally during the Hawaiian winter.

🚗 How to experience it?
Waikīkī is easily accessible from Honolulu. To reach the North Shore, you need to travel to the northern part of Oʻahu and allow for heavier traffic on major competition days.

🎟️ Attending a competition
Many surfing competitions can be watched directly from the beaches and do not require a ticket. However, events depend on wave conditions and may be postponed within a waiting period of several days.