Photo & Video Credits
Our thanks to Şefik Akkurt and Hamdi Yaman, who were part of the official photography crew, and to Natalia Alpatova, Norman Clark, and Fethiye Belediyesi for all photos and videos capturing the highlights of the 26th International Fethiye Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival.
Five days of spectacular aerial displays, colourful paragliders, live music and a breathtaking performance by the Turkish Stars brought the 26th International Fethiye Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival to a memorable close on Sunday, 25 October 2026.
Fethiye’s skies once again became the centre of attention as thousands of spectators gathered to enjoy one of the region’s most distinctive annual events. From the spectacular mountain scenery of Ölüdeniz to the coastline at Çalış Beach and the town centre, the festival brought together international air sports, family-friendly activities and live entertainment.
Held from 21 to 25 October, this year’s festival featured paragliding acrobatics, skydiving, wingsuit flights, powered paragliding, hot-air balloon displays and illuminated evening flights. The highlight for many spectators was the appearance of the Turkish Air Force’s celebrated aerobatic team, the Turkish Stars, at Çalış Beach on the final afternoon.
A Festival with a Long History
The International Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival has become one of Fethiye’s best-known international events, helping establish the region’s reputation as a world-class destination for paragliding and adventure tourism.
The festival grew out of Fethiye’s natural advantages. With the spectacular peaks of Babadağ overlooking Ölüdeniz and its famous Blue Lagoon, the area offers exceptional conditions for paragliding and panoramic aerial views of the Mediterranean coastline.
Over the years, the event has developed into an international gathering of pilots, professional performers and aviation enthusiasts. It showcases a wide range of aerial sports while introducing visitors to the region’s dramatic landscapes.
Now in its 26th year, the festival continues to attract competitors and performers from Turkey and overseas, bringing an international audience to Fethiye at the end of the main summer tourism season.
The 2026 event featured more than traditional paragliding, with a varied programme designed to appeal to residents, holidaymakers, families and dedicated air sports enthusiasts alike.
Wednesday, 21 October: Festival Opening
The festival officially opened at Belcekız Beach, attended by Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık, Fethiye District Governor Fatih Akkaya, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca and representatives of local organisations.
The day’s programme included paragliding acrobatics, speed flying, wingsuit displays, skydiving, powered paragliding and hot-air balloon activities.
Beşkaza Square in central Fethiye hosted hot-air balloon displays and powered-paraglider demonstrations, bringing the festival into the heart of the town.
As evening approached, illuminated powered-paraglider flights entertained spectators at Belcekız Beach, followed by a live performance from Ayna.
Thursday, 22 October: Aerial activities at Ölüdeniz.
Thursday’s programme continued with hot-air balloon displays at Beşkaza Square and aerial activities at Ölüdeniz.
The highlight was an illuminated powered-paraglider display at Çalış Beach. As darkness fell, LED-equipped paragliders created colourful patterns above the coastline, offering spectators a different perspective on the festival.
The evening’s entertainment included DJ performances by Metehan Olgun and Yasin Mede, keeping the celebrations going along the coast.
Friday, 23 October: The Turkish Stars Prepare for Their Performance
Friday brought further aerial displays, including paragliding acrobatics, wingsuit flights, skydiving and powered-paraglider demonstrations.
At Çalış Beach, the Turkish Stars carried out a rehearsal flight ahead of their highly anticipated Sunday performance. The aerobatic team generated considerable excitement among residents and aviation enthusiasts looking forward to the festival’s headline attraction.
The evening programme at Belcekız Beach featured a performance by Onur Asilkılıç, followed by DJ sets from Metehan Olgun and Yasin Mede.
Saturday, 24 October: Aerial Displays, Fireworks and Paramotors
Saturday’s programme continued with aerial displays at Ölüdeniz and hot-air balloon activities at Beşkaza Square.
At Çalış Beach, anticipation was building for Sunday’s headline attraction, the Turkish Stars’ aerobatic performance.
The day’s celebrations also featured an amazing fireworks display and a spectacular paramotor performance, adding colour and excitement to the festival atmosphere.
Paragliding performances and evening entertainment continued at Belcekız Beach, with the varied programme attracting aviation enthusiasts, families and visitors from across the region.
The festival once again showcased Fethiye’s coastline, mountain scenery and reputation as a destination for outdoor adventure and air sports.
Sunday, 25 October: The Turkish Stars Steal the Show
The final day began with the concluding flights of the paragliding acrobatics competition, followed by an awards ceremony. Skydiving, powered-paraglider demonstrations and hot-air balloon activities also featured in the programme.
The main attraction took place at Çalış Beach, where the Turkish Stars performed their aerobatic display at 15:30.
The celebrated Turkish Air Force team delivered a spectacular demonstration of precision flying and coordinated manoeuvres above the coastline.
Tens of thousands of spectators gathered to watch, including visitors who had travelled from outside Fethiye as well as local residents.
The performance brought the five-day festival to a memorable close, extending the excitement beyond Ölüdeniz to another of Fethiye’s best-known coastal locations.
More Than an Air Sports Festival
The 26th International Fethiye Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival once again demonstrated its importance to the region’s tourism calendar.
From the skies above Babadağ and Ölüdeniz to the coastline at Çalış Beach and the town centre, the festival combined international air sports with live music, public entertainment and spectacular aerial performances.
It also highlighted the natural attractions that make Fethiye a popular destination for paragliding and adventure tourism.
As the 2026 festival came to an end, the Turkish Stars’ performance provided a fitting finale to five days of flying displays and celebrations, leaving spectators with a memorable reminder of why this annual event continues to attract audiences from Turkey and abroad.
