Sultangazi, which has the title of European Sports City, hosts a giant event that brings together technology and sports. TDL Races 2026 1st Stage Drone Festival, organized in cooperation with Sultangazi Municipality and Tech Drone League, opened its doors to technology enthusiasts. This great event, which will last for two days, features both breathtaking races and dazzling light shows on the first day. The event, which brings together Turkey’s most suitable FPV drone pilots, attracts great attention from the local community and the technology world.

Giant Event: 2026 European Sports City Sultangazi hosts the Tech Drone League 1st Stage races and technology festival.

Intense Participation: Distinguished names such as Istanbul Deputy Governor Fahrettin Göncü, Hakkı Alkan and Hakan Çelik are participating in the event where 70 professional FPV drone pilots compete.

Technological Experiences: Many interactive activities, from drone simulators to robot football, from VR experience areas to drone football, meet with young people in the festival area.

Future Technology Takes the Stage in Sultangazi

Sultangazi Municipality Activity Area echoes with drone sounds throughout the weekend. FPV (First Person View) drone races, which push the limits of speed, reflexes and engineering, offer a visual feast to the audience. The opening ceremony of the festival is hosted by Sultangazi Mayor Abdurrahman Dursun and his wife Tuba Dursun. In addition to high-ranking statesmen, leading figures from the press world also accompany the opening ceremony.

Istanbul Deputy Governor Fahrettin Göncü conveys the greetings of Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and expresses his satisfaction with such a visionary organization being held in the district. Drone and light shows illuminating the sky during the opening ceremony are watched by thousands of citizens filling the area.

70 Pilots Competing for the Championship

70 professional drone pilots from all over Türkiye strive to achieve the fastest time on specially designed obstacle courses. Pilots make movements at high speeds, feeling as if they are in the cockpit of the drone, thanks to the special FPV glasses they wear on their heads. At the end of the races, which will continue on Sunday, big cash prizes are presented to the talented pilots who qualify.

Experience-Oriented Areas for Young People

The festival is not just about the races; It gives children and young people who visit the area the chance to personally experience new generation technologies. The following activities stand out in the event area where digital transformation and innovation are at the forefront:

Drone and Robot Football: These new generation sports branches, which combine squad training and technology, increase young people’s strategy development skills.

VR (Virtual Reality) and Simulators: Visitors experience flying in simulators where professional pilots are trained.

Drone Maker Area: Children who are interested in production and coding enter the kitchen of technology and learn the working principles of drones.

We Have to Catch Up with Life and Technology

Sultangazi Mayor Abdurrahman Dursun states that they are determined to make the district the center of sports and technology. Dursun states that they have been focusing on projects aimed at the development of young people since the day they took office.

Hakkı Alkan, who is well known in the technology world, also evaluates the atmosphere in the event area and emphasizes that it is enjoyable to share the excitement of young people. Alkan draws attention to the importance of the organization by saying, “There is not just one race here, there is a huge field of experience. It is a great effort to bring this vision here.” Journalist Hakan Çelik states that Sultangazi is a city that stands out with its projects in the recent period and that the interest of young people is promising for the future.

The event ends with the grand final races and award ceremony to be held on Sunday.