Annual chili pepper eating contest held in Kumluca

On May 2, 2026, the 27th annual agricultural festival in Kumluca, Antalya, hosted a spicy pepper eating contest. A total of 39 participants, including three women, competed within a strict three-minute time limit. Celal Derin won the event for the second consecutive year by consuming 474 grams of chili peppers. Following him, Yetkin Tuncer placed second with 370 grams, and Mehmet Yilmaz placed third with 286 grams. Among the women, Nazime Sartik achieved first place in her category by eating 146 grams within the same timeframe. Organizers provided tomatoes and a traditional yogurt drink to help participants manage the intensity of the peppers. Despite visible physical reactions such as tearing and redness, the contestants completed the competition.