The Sixth World Nomad Games Will Bring Together a Record 3,000 Athletes in Kyrgyzstan
From August 31 to September 6, 2026, Kyrgyzstan will host the Sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together over 3,000 athletes from over 100 countries. According to the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the official opening ceremony will take place on August 31 in Bishkek at the Bishkek Arena stadium and will coincide with the country's Independence Day.
The main sporting events will take place from September 2 to 6 in the city of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, as well as in the picturesque Kyrchyn Gorge, where a large ethnic village of hundreds of traditional yurts will unfold. The program of this major international forum, held under the motto "Unity of Strength! Unity of Spirit!", includes 43 types of ethnosports. The key events will feature spectacular equestrian disciplines (including kok-boru and er enish), traditional belt wrestling (including Turkmen goresh and alysh), hunting with falcons, and intellectual games.
The organizing committee emphasizes the dynamic growth of interest in the project. While representatives from 19 countries competed at the inaugural Games in 2014, the organizers are preparing to host a record number of international sports and cultural delegations in 2026. This year, Australia, New Zealand, Algeria, Burundi, Gambia, Jordan, Egypt, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Oman, Uganda, Ethiopia, and North Macedonia will compete for the first time.
The sixth Games are returning to Kyrgyzstan—their historical homeland and the birthplace of their brand—confirming Central Asia's status as a key center for the preservation and development of the nomadic civilizational heritage.
