The aim of this third annual event is to boost the morale and motivation of massage therapists from Turkey and abroad, and to create a positive, unifying, and innovative event where professional competition is fostered through collaboration.

Within the scope of ExpoSport İzmir 2026 International Wellness and Sports Fair, awards will be given out all day on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th in four categories: sports massage, classic massage, spa wellness massage, and facial massage. Except for sports massage, in the classic massage category, contestants will apply all the details of a classic massage. Similarly, in the spa wellness massage category, contestants can participate by choosing one of the massages that find application in spas, including Far Eastern massages that involve specific rituals. The facial massage category, like sports massage, involves a specialized method. Therefore, contestants can compete only by performing facial massages, including classic facial massage and other holistic facial massages.

First, second, and third place winners in all categories will be awarded trophies, medals, and surprise prizes. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. From the opening day of the fair, therapists who wish to do so can offer massages to fair participants in their designated area for 50 TL per minute. They can keep 25 TL for the fair organization and 25 TL for themselves, thus strengthening their own brand awareness and attracting clients through direct advertising.

Contestants will be able to enter the fair free of charge with their photo badges starting from the opening day. They can obtain their badges from the entrance reception on and after the opening day.

Tarih: 18 – 19 Eylül 2026 Cuma /  Cumartesi
Yer: İzmir Fuar Merkezi

Categories

• Sport Massage
• Classic Massage
• Spa Wellness Massage
• Face Massage

Rewards

Trophies, medals, and surprise gifts will be awarded to the first, second, and third-place winners in both categories. In addition, all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Massage Application Area:
Therapists can offer massages to visitors at their designated area throughout the fair for 50 TL per minute.
Of the fee collected, 25 TL will go to the therapist and 25 TL to the organization. This practice is an important opportunity for participants to promote their services and acquire clients.

 

PARTICIPATION FEES:

Participant Type	One Category
General Participant	3.000 TL

After payment, the completed application, including the registration form, bank receipt, and photograph, will constitute official contestant registration.

 

Details of the Categories

1. Sport Massage

Treatments in this category should be entirely focused on addressing fatigue, trauma, and/or recovery experienced by athletes after physical activity.

– The therapist must provide a complete clinical history (medical background) of the athlete they are treating, written down and presented to the jury.

– The application area should be the shoulders, lower and upper extremities.

– Stretching and flexibility techniques are permitted.

– Bandaging and kinesiotape application are permitted.

– Routine use of a massage table is mandatory. (It will be provided by the organization.)

– The therapist may use ground reaction force, but the therapist must never lift one foot off the ground during the procedure. Otherwise, they will be disqualified.

– The use of tools is prohibited. Scissors are natural in bandaging, but techniques should be applied using the hand and elbow.

– The therapist is responsible for the organization and design of their workspace.

ATTENTION! The person receiving the massage must be in good health. This is not a real treatment; it is intended to assess the therapist's knowledge and skills.

 

 

2. CLASSIC MASSAGE CATEGORY

This category constitutes the essence of massage and is a fundamental category that will be given special consideration by the jury due to its importance.

The therapist who will compete in this category;

• The practitioner must demonstrate all manipulations (hand movements) of classical massage, including effleurage, petrissage, friction, percussion (Hashman, Klakman, Tapotmen), rolling, and vibration techniques within the application area. During the application,

-Positioning the individual receiving the massage,

-The order and sequence of applications,

-Continuity of contact,

- Rhythm and speed,

-Presure Density,

- Demonstrating innovative applications (innovation) using fundamental techniques,

- Adherence to moral rules,

They will be held responsible for details such as these.

• Communication between the therapist and the massage therapist will be considered.
• The therapist will use the time allotted to them in a meaningful way.
• Chiropractic practice is grounds for disqualification.
• The therapist is responsible for the organization and design of their workspace.

 

3. SPA WELLNESS MASSAGE CATEGORY

This category includes treatments other than wet-space rituals performed in spas, such as Aromatherapy Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Four-Hand Ritual Massage, and Balinese Massage. Competing Therapists,

• They can create an ambiance unique to their Spa-Wellness practice.
• In treatments such as hot stone massage or hot oil massage, the therapist can—or should—prepare themselves before the allotted time for the treatment.
• The therapist is responsible for the organization and design of their workspace.

ATTENTION! The competition area covers approximately 120 square meters. Therefore, since this area will be divided among 8 or 10 therapists, each therapist will have approximately 12-15 square meters of space. Competitors who wish to create a spa wellness atmosphere may prepare visual materials (written, illustrated, wooden, cardboard, etc.) and set up their own stage.

4. FACIAL MASSAGE

The application criteria for the Facial Massage category primarily encompass aesthetic skin care and massage applications. The fact that expert aestheticians also serve as judges requires practitioners to be more meticulous in their selection process.

• The products used during the application must be approved by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Agriculture. Products of foreign origin do not require these approvals as they are used with these permits.
• The skin surface should be cleaned.
• No tools other than the hands should be used on the face. (Crystal Healing Stones may be used)
• The face, arms, and chin area can be exposed down to the décolleté (chest line).
• The procedure can be performed on either a female or male model.
• For both women and men, the display of private parts may result in disqualification.
• If the model is male, he must be clean-shaven and have a full face.
• The therapist is responsible for the organization and design of their workspace.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Contestants;

- Presentation, personal hygiene and care,

- Model positioning, comfort, model concealment, and moral values.

-From preparing the materials suitable for the area and massage style,

- From verbal and nonverbal communication that is appropriate to the style,

-From the therapist's own body ergonomics to the proper use of pressure and body weight,

-Rhythm, fluidity, continuity, transitions between techniques,

-The use of new and different techniques leads to the creation of innovative combinations of different techniques,

-The use of techniques appropriate to the sport and the combination of techniques,

-They will be held responsible for the integrity of the massage and the therapist's overall performance.

Time

Depending on the number of participants applying to each category, the competition will be held in groups of 8 or 10, with 30-minute sessions, under the supervision of a jury of 5 or 8 people.

Rewards

• Each participant will receive 1 medal and 1 certificate.
• The winners of categories 2 and 3 will receive: 1 Medal, 1 Trophy and Certificate.
• Category 1 winners will receive: 1 Medal, 1 Trophy, Certificate, and a Cash Prize.

In addition, contestants received various gifts from sponsors.

COMMITTEE:

Fair Organization Coordinator: L.M.T. Lis.Ped. Adnan Kabasakal

Komite Başkanı ve Baş Jüri: Dr. Hüseyin Boztepe     (0.532.616 18 58)

(Genel Masör ve Spor Masörleri Birliği Derneği ve Türkiye Masaj Enstitüsü Yön. Kur. Bşk.)

Genel Sekreter: F.T.T. L.M.T. Derya Soytürk

Gen. Mas. ve Spor Mas. Bir. Der. Yönetim Kurulu Üyesi

Üye / Denetçi: Natali Bal Duvarcı

( Spa Wellness İşletmecileri ve Yatırımcıları Derneği Yönetim Kurulu Üyesi)

Üye / Denetçi: Prof. Dr. Mehmet İnan

(Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Öğretim Üyesi)

Üye / Denetçi: Dr. Sibel Yaman

(Rumeli Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi Öğretim Üyesi)