Mountain Games Cyprus Brings Four Days of Sport and Culture to Troodos
From September 23 to 26, villages across the Troodos mountains will host the Mountain Games Cyprus 2026, a free four-day programme of sport, food, culture and wellbeing.
The Troodos mountains are set to host Mountain Games Cyprus 2026, a four-day event running from September 23 to 26, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The non-profit initiative is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme and carries the message Healthy Lifestyles for All.
Villages, squares, trails, schools and cultural venues across the Troodos range will open their doors to a multi-themed programme coordinated by the MountMed Institute. Organisations and delegations from 11 countries — Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkey and the Czech Republic — will take part.
Events will be spread mainly across the communities of Platres, Agros, Spilia, Kakopetria, Evrychou and Omodos. The opening takes place in Platres on Wednesday, September 23, with the Mountain Games International Symposium, including an international scientific conference held under the auspices of the health minister on physical activity, public health and active ageing.
On September 24 and 25, hundreds of students from across Cyprus will join the Elevate Your Life programme in Agros and Omodos, with sports, traditional games and gastronomy workshops, including activities adapted for people with visual impairment or low vision. Hikes along the Madari and Myllomeri Waterfall trails and orienteering in Omodos are also planned.
Biking races for all ages and levels take place on September 26 at the Mountain Games Cycling Festival, while Kakopetria hosts the Mentoring Football Tournament U12. The Mountain Culture in Motion strand brings traditional dance, music and intercultural workshops to elderly care homes, Platres and Omodos Square, with delegations from ten European countries joining the Dance Gathering on Friday evening. On September 26, the women's a cappella Amalgamation Choir closes the cultural programme at the courtyard of Timiou Stavrou Monastery.
The Taste, Move & Thrive weekend runs across September 25 and 26, with 30 local producers at the Mountain Products Market divided into six zones: honey, aromatic herbs, dairy, legumes and olive oil, cured meats, and wine and dough products. Halloumi-making workshops, a Cypriot ravioles and Italian ravioli workshop with chef Marcello Zaccaria, olive oil tasting, a traditional family breakfast on Saturday and wine tasting with local wineries are on the agenda.
Most events are free to attend, with the exception of some selected evenings and invitation-only happenings. The full agenda is available at www.mountaingames.eu.
What it means for residents
For people living in or near the Troodos communities, the Games mean busier roads and fuller village squares for four days, but also a chance to use local trails and services close to home.
- Plan travel Mountain roads around Platres, Agros, Kakopetria, Evrychou and Omodos will be busier between September 23 and 26.
- Free entry Most events are free, so families can join sports, hikes and food workshops at little or no cost.
- Local business Producers and village shops in the area stand to benefit from the flow of visitors.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
