Mountain Games Cyprus 2026 to bring sport, culture and gastronomy to Troodos villages

Platres, Cyprus. Mountain Games Cyprus 2026 will take place across the Troodos mountains from September 23 to 26, bringing together sport, gastronomy, culture and wellbeing activities in mountain communities.

The non-profit event, co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme, will be held under the message “Healthy Lifestyles for All” and involve athletes, agricultural producers, artists, politicians and the public.

Programme across mountain communities

Villages, squares, trails, schools and cultural venues in Troodos will host the multi-themed programme. Activities will be held mainly in Platres, Agros, Spilia, Kakopetria, Evrychou and Omodos.

Organisations and delegations from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkey and the Czech Republic will participate in events coordinated by the MountMed Institute.

The opening event will be held in Platres on September 23, alongside the Mountain Games International Symposium. Under the auspices of the health minister, an international scientific conference will bring together scientists, doctors and institutional bodies to discuss physical activity, public health and active ageing.

Youth, outdoor and sporting activities

On September 24 and 25, hundreds of students from across Cyprus will participate in the Elevate Your Life programme in Agros and Omodos. The programme will include sports activities, traditional games and gastronomy workshops, including adapted activities for people with visual impairment or low vision.

Outdoor activities will include hikes on the Madari and Myllomeri Waterfall trails, as well as orienteering in Omodos.

The Mountain Games Cycling Festival on September 26 will feature cycling races for all ages and levels. Kakopetria will host the Mentoring Football Tournament U12.

Culture and mountain communities

The Mountain Culture in Motion strand will include traditional dance, music and intercultural workshops in elderly care homes, Platres and Omodos Square. Delegations from 10 European countries will participate in the Dance Gathering on Friday evening.

The women’s a cappella Amalgamation Choir will close the cultural programme on September 26 in the courtyard of Timiou Stavrou Monastery.

The Mountain Games Futures Lab will include a conference on mountain tourism in Agros, a youth workshop in Evrychou and a two-day educational programme on trail certification in Spilia. The event will conclude on Saturday in Platres with the Mountain Games Legacy Forum, focusing on exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

Local products market

The Taste, Move & Thrive weekend will take place on September 25 and 26. The Mountain Products Market will feature 30 local producers across six thematic zones: honey, aromatic herbs, dairy products, legumes and olive oil, cured meats, and wine and dough products.