Turkey: Medieval fair brings fantasy and history to Cappadocia - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, rock-cut dwellings and centuries-old stone architecture provided the backdrop for an unusual tourism event in September. Medieval enthusiasts from Türkiye and abroad travelled to Ürgüp for the Barbarian Medieval Fair, transforming part of the famous destination into a world of elaborate costumes, historical references and fantasy.

The event, held from 18 to 20 September 2026, has grown rapidly since its launch in 2023. What began as architect Muammer Erinal’s attempt to bring together people sharing his fascination with the Middle Ages now attracts thousands of participants and visitors, some of whom spend months preparing their costumes.

A childhood fascination becomes a tourism event

Erinal, 60, has lived in Ürgüp for 24 years. His fascination with medieval stories began in childhood, when his mother read books to him and he created heroes, horses and imaginary battles from cardboard.

“Now, in fact, I have realized this dream of mine,” he says.

After acquiring an old building in Ürgüp and converting it into a medieval-themed restaurant, Erinal developed the idea of an event that could bring enthusiasts together while adding another dimension to Cappadocia’s tourism offer.

The response exceeded his expectations. “When I saw that crowd, I almost cried,” he recalls of the first edition. “Hundreds of people came, but it grows every year. There are thousands of people this year.”

Costumes prepared months in advance

For many participants, attending the fair involves considerable preparation. Some research and create their outfits for six or seven months, while international visitors travel to Cappadocia carrying costumes specifically made for the gathering.

The audience is equally diverse. Erinal says the event has attracted visitors from across Türkiye as well as international participants, revealing a much larger community interested in medieval history, literature, clothing and mythology than he had initially imagined.

“I used to feel lonely about something like this, but there is an incredible community interested in the Middle Ages and reading books about the Middle Ages,” he says. “It is enjoyable to all be together.”

Cappadocia provides a natural stage

The setting is an important part of the fair’s appeal. Cappadocia’s volcanic landscape, cave architecture and stone buildings provide an atmosphere that would be difficult to recreate in a conventional event venue.

“When you go outside, there are already stone buildings and dim lights,” says Erinal’s daughter Ada, who is also an architect. “You cannot capture this in Istanbul or Ankara.”

She believes the destination could accommodate an even larger event in future. “That mystical atmosphere is very suitable for it.”

International visitors discover Türkiye through the event

The fair is also becoming a travel motivation in its own right. Rafael Bukov travelled from Russia and used the event as an opportunity to visit Türkiye for the first time. He described the combination of Cappadocia’s landscape and the costumed participants as an “incredible atmosphere”.

For returning visitor Deniz Apaydin from Eskişehir, the attraction lies in temporarily escaping modern urban life.

“When I leave city life and come here, I feel as if I have been transported to a different period and lived there,” she says.

That combination gives the event a distinctive tourism dimension. Cappadocia is already one of Türkiye’s best-known cultural destinations, but the medieval gathering shows how its landscape can also provide a setting for specialised events capable of attracting communities whose primary reason for travelling extends beyond conventional sightseeing.

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration with material courtesy of TAT