The World Nomad Games are the Olympics of nomadic sport: a biennial festival where several thousand athletes from 80-plus countries compete in kok-boru, horseback wrestling, eagle hunting, archery and dozens of other traditional disciplines. Founded by Kyrgyzstan in 2014 and hosted three times in Cholpon-Ata on Lake Issyk-Kul, the Games now rotate internationally — Turkey hosted in 2022, Kazakhstan (Astana) in 2024, and the 2026 edition is slated to return to Kyrgyzstan; always confirm dates and host on the official channels before booking.
This guide explains the signature sports, the unmissable Kyrchyn ethno-village, how tickets and logistics work, and — crucially — the smaller annual festivals in Kyrgyzstan where you can watch kok-boru and eagle hunting in any year, not just a Games year.
What are the World Nomad Games?
Kyrgyzstan created the Games in 2014 to revive and globalize the sports of the Eurasian steppe. The first three editions (2014, 2016, 2018) ran at the Cholpon-Ata hippodrome on the north shore of Issyk-Kul, growing from 19 to about 80 participating countries. The format is part championship, part cultural expo: medal competitions in 20–40 ethnosports, plus a parallel festival of music, crafts, food and epic recitation. Since 2018 the event has rotated — Iznik, Turkey in 2022 and Astana, Kazakhstan in 2024 (around 89 countries, 20-plus sports) — under the slogan of uniting nomadic civilizations.
Where are the next World Nomad Games?
The 2026 (sixth) edition is expected back in Kyrgyzstan, with the Issyk-Kul region the natural venue, and September the traditional slot — the 2014–2018 editions all ran in early-to-mid September, when Issyk-Kul weather is reliably dry and warm. Host announcements and exact dates shift, so verify on the official World Nomad Games site and Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture channels roughly six months out, then book Cholpon-Ata accommodation immediately: the town sells out fast in a Games year. Our Cholpon-Ata guide covers where to stay and how to get there.
The signature sports, explained
Kok-boru
The headline act. Two teams of four riders (from squads of eight or more) fight for a 30–35 kg goat carcass and hurl it into the opponent’s tai kazan, a raised goal ring. Three 20-minute periods of controlled mayhem; Kyrgyzstan has won every Games final, usually against Kazakhstan, in front of a deafening crowd.
Er enish
Wrestling on horseback: two riders grapple until one is dragged from the saddle. Raw strength plus horsemanship — bouts can end in seconds.
Kyz kuumai
“Catch the girl”: a man chases a woman on horseback and tries to kiss her at full gallop; on the return leg she chases him with a whip and uses it. Traditionally a courtship game, today a crowd favorite the women frequently win.
Salburun
The traditional hunting arts: golden eagles and taigan hounds competing at lure work, plus horseback falconry and archery. The Bokonbaevo berkutchi community dominates the eagle events.
Mas-wrestling and toguz korgool
Mas-wrestling is a Yakut tug-of-war over a board with a shared stick — brutally simple, and one of the fastest-growing federations at the Games. Toguz korgool is the cerebral counterweight: a Kyrgyz mancala-family board game with nine-stone pits, played at championship level in dead silence a hundred meters from the kok-boru dust.
Horse racing and archery
Rounding out the program: at chabysh endurance races of 10–80 km ridden bareback, often by teenage jockeys; dozens of national belt-wrestling styles (alysh, kurash, gyulesh); and traditional archery both on foot and at full gallop, where Turkish, Hungarian and Kazakh teams push the Kyrgyz hosts hard. With 20–40 disciplines running simultaneously, no two spectators see the same Games.
Kyrchyn gorge: the ethno-village
For many visitors the best part of the Games isn’t the stadium — it’s Kyrchyn gorge, 30–40 minutes above Cholpon-Ata in the Semenovka valley, where each Kyrgyz region (and guest nations) builds a yurt encampment of several hundred yurts. You wander between manaschi recitations, felt-making, komuz orchestras, wedding re-enactments, hunting dogs and endless free tastings of kymyz and boorsok. Horse games and eagle demonstrations run on the gorge floor all day. In 2018 entry to Kyrchyn was free; budget a half day minimum and bring cash for crafts — this is some of the best souvenir shopping in the country (see our souvenir guide).
Getting up there is easy in a Games year: shuttle buses run from central Cholpon-Ata and the hippodrome, and shared taxis wait at the turnoff (200–400 KGS). The gorge sits near 2,000 m, so afternoons can flip from t-shirt weather to hail in twenty minutes — pack a shell even under a blue sky.
Can’t make a Games year? Annual alternatives in Kyrgyzstan
The Games are biennial and may be abroad, but Kyrgyzstan stages smaller versions every single summer:
| Event | Where | When | What you’ll see |
|---|---|---|---|
| At Chabysh horse festival | Barskoon / Issyk-Kul south shore (venue varies) | Usually July–August | Long-distance races, kok-boru, kyz kuumai, crafts |
| Salburun festivals | Bokonbaevo area | Winter (Feb) & summer editions | Eagle hunting, taigan hounds, horseback archery |
| Song-Kul horse games | Song-Kul jailoo, via CBT Kochkor/Naryn | June–September, on request | Kok-boru, er enish, ulak for small groups (3,000–6,000 KGS/group) |
| Independence Day races | Bishkek & regional hippodromes | August 31 | Kok-boru league matches, racing |
| Nooruz celebrations | Nationwide | March 21 | Games, music, sumolok feasts |
The Song-Kul option is the most flexible: CBT coordinators can arrange a private kok-boru or horse-games demonstration by local herders with a few days’ notice — details in our Song-Kul guide.
How much do tickets and logistics cost?
Historically the Games have been cheap to attend. In Cholpon-Ata editions, many events and the Kyrchyn village were free; premium seats for the opening ceremony and kok-boru final sold for roughly 500–2,000 KGS ($6–23), released via the official site and local box offices a few weeks out. Budget the real money for accommodation: Cholpon-Ata guesthouses that cost $25–40 normally can double or triple during the Games, so book two to three months ahead or stay in Bosteri or Karakol and commute. Marshrutkas from Bishkek’s Western bus station to Cholpon-Ata run about 400–500 KGS (4–5 hours); shared taxis about 700–1,000 KGS. Most nationalities enter Kyrgyzstan visa-free for 30–60 days; others can use the official e-visa portal. See our Issyk-Kul travel guide for the wider region.
Spectator tips
- Go to kok-boru semifinals as well as the final — same intensity, easier seats.
- Spend at least half a day in Kyrchyn gorge; mornings are quieter for photos.
- Bring sun protection and layers: September at 1,600–2,000 m is hot at noon, cold by evening.
- Carry cash in som — card acceptance at venues and yurt camps is minimal.
- Learn the schedule the night before; events shift and announcements are mostly in Kyrgyz and Russian.
- Combine the trip with the south shore: Skazka canyon and Bokonbaevo eagle hunters are under two hours away.
For background on the traditions behind every event on the program, read our Kyrgyz nomadic culture guide before you go — the Games make far more sense when you know why a tunduk sits on the flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the next World Nomad Games?
The sixth edition is expected in Kyrgyzstan in 2026, most likely in the Issyk-Kul region in early September, following Astana 2024. Hosts and dates are confirmed roughly a year out, so check the official World Nomad Games website before booking flights and Cholpon-Ata accommodation.
What sports are played at the World Nomad Games?
Twenty to forty ethnosports, headlined by kok-boru (goat-carcass horseball), er enish horseback wrestling, kyz kuumai chase races, salburun eagle hunting and falconry, horseback archery, mas-wrestling, dozens of belt-wrestling styles and the strategy board game toguz korgool. A parallel cultural festival runs alongside the competitions.
How much do World Nomad Games tickets cost?
Cheap by international standards. At past Cholpon-Ata editions many events and the Kyrchyn ethno-village were free, while opening-ceremony and kok-boru final seats ran roughly 500–2,000 KGS ($6–23). Accommodation is the real cost — Issyk-Kul guesthouses can double or triple their prices during the Games.
What is the Kyrchyn ethno-village?
Kyrchyn is a mountain gorge above Cholpon-Ata transformed during the Games into a camp of several hundred yurts. Each Kyrgyz region showcases crafts, food, music, manaschi epic recitation and horse games. Most visitors rate it the highlight — plan at least half a day and bring cash.
Can I see kok-boru and eagle hunting outside the Games?
Yes, every year. The At Chabysh horse festival (usually July–August), winter and summer salburun festivals near Bokonbaevo, Independence Day matches on August 31, and private horse-games demonstrations at Song-Kul arranged through CBT (about 3,000–6,000 KGS per group) all run regardless of the Games calendar.
