World Nomad Games 2026
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| World Nomad Games VI | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kyrgyzstan |
| Cities | Bishkek, Cholpon-Ata, Kyrchyn |
| Dates | Aug 31 — Sep 6, 2026 |
| Duration | 7 days |
| Countries | 89+ |
| Disciplines | more than 20 |
| Medals | 110 sets |
World Nomad Games 2026 (eng. World Nomad Games 2026) — the VI international summer competitions in traditional sports and martial arts of nomadic peoples from around the world. They will take place in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 6, 2026.
The Games are held under the auspices of the International Federation of World Nomad Games and represent the largest international forum promoting nomadic heritage. The opening ceremony is dedicated to the Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan. Athletes from more than 89 countries are expected to participate.
For Kyrgyzstan, this is a return home: the first three Games (2014, 2016, 2018) were also hosted by the country. Later editions took place in Turkey (2022) and Kazakhstan (2024).
Contents
Venues
Competitions will take place at several venues in the capital city of Bishkek and along the shore of the high-mountain lake Issyk-Kul. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the new Azattyk Stadium in Bishkek.
| Venue | Location | Disciplines |
|---|---|---|
Azattyk Stadium | Bishkek | Opening and closing ceremonies |
Hippodrome | Cholpon-Ata | Equestrian sports: Kok-Boru, Baige, Er-Enish |
Sports Complex | Cholpon-Ata | Wrestling and martial arts |
Ethno Village | Kyrchyn | Archery, falconry, cultural program |
Rukh Ordo Cultural Center | Cholpon-Ata | Mas-wrestling, Toguz-Korgool, Ordo, ethno festival |
Schedule
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
August 31 | Grand opening ceremony. Parade of delegations, light show | Azattyk Stadium, Bishkek |
September 1 | Start of competitions in all disciplines. Qualification rounds | All venues |
September 2 | Continuation of qualification rounds. Equestrian competitions | Hippodrome, Cholpon-Ata |
September 3 | Cultural program. Ethno festival. Scientific conference | Kyrchyn Ethno Village |
September 4 | Semi-finals. Continuation of cultural program | All venues |
September 5 | Finals in most disciplines. Kok-Boru final — the main event of the Games | Hippodrome, Cholpon-Ata |
September 6 | Closing ceremony. Awarding of 110 medal sets | Azattyk Stadium, Bishkek |
Sports
More than 20 disciplines are included in the Games program, divided into three groups: equestrian sports, martial arts and wrestling, as well as traditional games and hunting practices. A total of 110 sets of medals will be awarded.
- Kuresh / Kurosh
- Mongolian wrestling
- Sambo
- Sumo
- Mas-wrestling
- Arm wrestling
- Salburun (falconry)
- Traditional archery
- Toguz-Korgool
- Ordo
- Yurt building
Participating Countries
More than 89 countries from all continents are expected to participate. Traditionally, the strongest teams represent the peoples of Central Asia and Mongolia, while teams from Europe, the Middle East, and North America also actively compete in several disciplines.
- Kyrgyzstan (host)
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Mongolia
- Turkey
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- China
- Japan
- Russia
- Germany
- France
- United States
- Azerbaijan
- and others (89+ in total)
History of the Games
The World Nomad Games were founded in 2012 at the initiative of the President of Kyrgyzstan. The first competition took place in 2014 and brought together only 19 countries. With each edition, the scale of the Games has grown significantly.
| Year | Country | City | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
I · 2014 | 🇰🇬 Кыргызстан | Чолпон-Ата | 19 |
II · 2016 | 🇰🇬 Кыргызстан | Чолпон-Ата | 62 |
III · 2018 | 🇰🇬 Кыргызстан | Чолпон-Ата | 82 |
IV · 2022 | 🇹🇷 Турция | Измир | 102 |
V · 2024 | 🇰🇿 Казахстан | Астана | 89 |
VI · 2026 | 🇰🇬 Кыргызстан | Бишкек / Чолпон-Ата | 89+ |