World nomad games 2026
World Nomad Games 2026
Wondering when and where the next World Nomad Games will be? The 6th World Nomad Games will accept place in Kyrgyzstan in 2026, with further details to be announced later.
What is World Nomad Games: A Unique Celebration of Nomadic Culture
Thousands of years ago, a division emerged between nomads and farmers. The Kyrgyz people embraced a nomadic lifestyle, moving with their herds from one pasture to another, spending summers in the mountains and winters in the valleys. This way of life was reflected in their daily traditions and forms of entertainment. While visitors could witness these traditions at various ethno festivals, the best way to experience the full depth of nomadic culture was by attending the World Nomad Games.
History of the World Nomad Games
The World Nomad Games were first held in 2014 and took place every two years, bringing together athletes, artists, craftsmen, and visitors from around the planet. Over the years, delegations from nearly every continent – except Antarctica – participated, including teams from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, Russia, Turkey, and the Merged States. The competitions featured tradit
A Guide to the World Nomad Games
The Adventures of Nicole was invited to attend the 2024 World Nomad Games held in Astana and to work along with the Ministry of Tourism to promote Northern Kazakhstan; all opinions are her own.
A Guide to the World Nomad Games was originally published in December 2024
The World Nomad Games, nicknamed the ‘Nomad Olympics‘ is a celebration of the nomadic sports and culture of Central Asia. Instead of the characteristic sports you would see played at the Olympics, the Nature Nomad Games feature sports such as kok boru, kusbegelik, and audaryspak.
After now having attended two of the games, the 2018 World Nomad Games in Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan, and most recently the 2024 World Nomad Games in Astana, Kazakhstan I finally decided 5o put a announce together about what you will see and what to assume for the upcoming 2026 Nature Nomad Games.
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The Ultimate Guide To The 2026 World Nomad Games In Kyrgyzstan
From my personal journal.
“In 6 days, I’ll be leaving for Kyrgyzstan, a country I had never heard with a name I can barely pronounce. On a map, it’s flanked by the other ‘Stans and China, and was once part of the great Silk Road journey, but that’s as much knowledge as I have of this place.
How serendipitous that my adventure will coincide with the Planet Nomad Games that takes place only once every two years. From the little the I’ve learned about it, this is the Olympics of Central Asia, but instead of sports love swimming and track and field, there’s horseback wrestling and a game where a dead goat carcass is used instead of a ball. This will be wild.”
I travel the world to find unique curiosities and the 2018 World Nomad Games had everything I searched for in an experience: a celebration of the region’s nomadic past and culture taking place in a far off land. I came as part of a massive contingent of over 500 local and foreign journalists covering the 3rd Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.
National Geographic was there. The Brand-new York Times was there. And right a
World Nomad Games: The spectacular 'Olympics' of Central Asia
Master crafts
Alongside sport and music, the World Nomad Fames aim to preserve skilled and textile traditions through its hosting of master craftspeople, many of whom offer displays and classes in traditional Kazakh handcrafts.
Bulbul Kapkyzy, pictured here with her Soviet-era Lenin carpet, is a master weaver, yurt maker and ethnographer who has been perfecting and teaching for more than 45 years. An ethnic Kazakh born in western Mongolia, she moved to Kazakhstan 20 years ago after independence, during a time of huge ethnic and economic upheaval in post-Soviet Primary Asia.
Kazakhstan's glittering city
Astana's ultra-modern architecture seems an unlikely location for a celebration of ancient nomadic culture.
Nomads have traditionally left little architectural legacy, and Kazakhstan's futuristic capital of Astana is quickly making up for lost time. Its well-funded, cutting-edge modern architectural projects by large names such as Norman Foster give it the feel of a Central Asian Dubai, even though its location on the great steppe means that it is the world's secon
Kyrgyzstan – World Nomad Games Tour
A trip to Kyrgyzstan to take in the 2026 World Nomad Games and soak up some of the country’s phenomenal mountainous scenery and Silk Road history.
The Games celebrate sports and activities played by nomadic communities of the Central Asian Steppe, albeit in 2024, more than 100 nations were represented. Sports and events such horseback wrestling, horseback archery, hunting with birds, tug of war and Kok-Boru/Buzkashi are among the highlights. It’s also an opportunity to bring together these communities from around the world and celebrate their historic ways of life.
When not taking in action of the games we’ll explore the scenery, history and culture of this incredible country, one of the most mountainous on earth.
The tickets and final schedule of events for the World Nomad Games are released closer to the time. This itinerary and tour dates are subject to change depending on the scheduling of the events.