Contents:
This schedule was checked on 25 August 2026: download the official programme again before travelling. Times, admission and transport arrangements can change, and free entry does not guarantee a place.
Key dates
Opening ceremony
- The ceremony is scheduled for 17:00 at Bishkek Arena.
- You need a named electronic ticket and identity verification.
- Dedicated shuttle buses will run from points around the city.
Sport and culture
- Horse games and races take place in Baktuu-Dolonotu.
- Wrestling, board games, music and exhibitions occupy separate venues.
- Kyrchyn hosts the ethno-village, crafts and part of the competition programme.
Finals and closing ceremony
- The kok boru and kokpar finals require tickets.
- The closing ceremony is scheduled for the evening at the hippodrome.
- Avoid committing to a long transfer after the final programme.
What the World Nomad Games are
The World Nomad Games combine three strands: ethnosport, culture and academic exchange. One week can include horse games, racing, wrestling styles, archery, competitions with trained raptors, board games, concerts, exhibitions, craft workshops and conferences.
Kyrgyzstan staged the first Games in 2014 and hosted them again in 2016 and 2018. The event then moved to İznik in Türkiye in 2022 and Astana in Kazakhstan in 2024. The 2026 edition brings the project back to the country where it began.
This is an international programme, so apparently similar disciplines may follow different national rulebooks. “Wrestling”, “archery” or “horse game” does not describe one universal format. Before you arrive, use our separate guides to understand kok boru, toguz korgool, traditional archery and the work of berkutchi.
1/4. Kok boru at the 2018 World Nomad Games Photo: Helen Owl, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 4.0 ; edited for this site.
2/4. A participant with a trained raptor at the 2016 Games Photo: Save the Dream, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY 2.0 ; edited for this site.
3/4. Toguz korgool rewards careful study of the position Photo: Matěj Baťha, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 ; edited for this site.
4/4. The wider international context of horseback archery, Türkiye Photo: Alparslan Uzun, Pexels , Pexels License ; edited for this site.
Where the programme takes place
The opening is in Bishkek. The main week is roughly 250 kilometres away on Issyk-Kul's north shore. For events from 1 to 6 September, stay in Cholpon-Ata, Baktuu-Dolonotu or a nearby resort settlement. Bishkek is not a practical base for commuting to the competitions every day.
Hippodrome and Kok Boru Arena
- Horse racing, mounted games, the ethno-song festival and the closing ceremony take place here.
- Preliminary rounds and finals can have different admission rules.
- Allow time for security checks and walking between events.
Sports hall, Rukh Ordo and indoor venues
- The Gazprom sports complex hosts national wrestling styles.
- Rukh Ordo carries part of the music and cultural programme.
- Traditional board games use a separate hall at the Eurasia Hotel.
The ethno-village at Kyrchyn
- The mountain site contains regional encampments, an ethno-bazaar and stages.
- Archery, ordo, strength events and hunting disciplines also run here.
- The access road, parking and weather justify a dedicated full-day plan.
Two further venues are easy to miss if you search only for a “main stadium”. The Kurmanjan Datka Centre of Nomadic Civilisation hosts art and academic events. Dordoi Nomad carries a craft fair, concerts and competitions. Choose an event first, then route yourself to the venue named in its listing.
How to choose days and disciplines
The full programme runs to 41 pages because many strands happen at the same time. You cannot see everything. Build each day around one priority event and keep two nearby options in reserve. This prevents a transfer between Kyrchyn and Baktuu-Dolonotu from costing you the final you came to see.
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Choose your main format
Horse games, wrestling, board games and a cultural day in Kyrchyn use different venues and demand a different pace.
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Confirm the exact venue
Record the arena, date, time, admission rule and opening time for spectators, not just the name of the event.
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Group nearby events
Combine Cholpon-Ata venues with one another, but give Kyrchyn its own day.
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Keep the plan offline
Download the schedule, ticket and address. Mobile data may slow down when large crowds arrive.
A preliminary day followed by a finals day makes a good first visit. Earlier rounds show more teams and formats. Finals draw a larger crowd and require more time, advance tickets and patience at the entrance.
Free events and ticketed events
In the programme published on 21 August, free entry is listed for sport and culture at Kyrchyn, wrestling at the Gazprom sports complex, board games at the Eurasia Hotel, horse races at the hippodrome and preliminary matches at the Kok Boru Arena from 2 to 5 September. Capacity remains limited, so arrive early even when no ticket is required.
You need tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies, the kok boru and kokpar finals on 6 September, the ethno-song festival at the hippodrome, and cultural programmes at Rukh Ordo and Dordoi Nomad. The official ticket page sends visitors to the relevant state ticketing systems. Check age limits, named-ticket rules and refund conditions for the individual event.
Do not buy a screenshot of a QR code from a stranger. Opening-ceremony tickets are tied to the visitor's identity and Face ID and cannot be transferred. Other venues may use different conditions, so read the page for your exact session.
Getting to the opening in Bishkek
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 17:00 on 31 August at Bishkek Arena. Admission requires a personal electronic ticket. Foreign visitors enter passport or other identity-document details, complete photo identification and receive a named QR code. The stated age restriction is 7+.
Private cars and taxis will not be allowed to drive directly to the stadium on the day. Organisers have announced shuttle buses from 22 transfer points around Bishkek. A link in the purchased ticket opens an app with stops and timetables. Travel to your chosen shuttle point early instead of setting the stadium gate as a taxi destination.
The calmer plan is to sleep in Bishkek after the ceremony and travel to Issyk-Kul on the morning of 1 September. If the first lakeside events matter to you, arrange a separate early transfer rather than depending on a late-night journey immediately after the show.
Moving between Issyk-Kul venues
Cholpon-Ata and Baktuu-Dolonotu are close, but Games traffic will lengthen ordinary journey times. Kyrchyn lies away from the main highway in Semenov Gorge. The access road, drop-off point and return transport matter more than the straight-line distance shown on a map.
Do not tell a driver simply to take you to the “Nomad Games”. Name the exact venue and save it on your map. With an organised transfer, ask where the return bus departs, when the final service leaves and whether an earlier return is possible. Rows of similar buses and parking areas are easy to confuse at a large ethno-village.
Our route around Issyk-Kul helps put the distances in context. Increase its normal driving estimates during the Games.
Planning a day in Kyrchyn
Give Kyrchyn a full day. The ethno-village brings together regional encampments, food, crafts, stages, demonstration games and competition fields. The cover photograph shows the scale well: you walk between zones rather than step from one indoor hall to the next.
The approved programme lists free entry to cultural and sporting events in the ethno-village. It includes ordo, strength disciplines, traditional foot and horseback archery, competitions with trained raptors and taigans, an ethno-bazaar, concerts and regional presentations. Look for the event time within the Kyrchyn section rather than relying on the general daily feed.
Bring water, a snack, sun protection, a rain shell and a warm layer. Shoes need to cope with dirt tracks and wet grass. An umbrella is awkward in a tight crowd, and the mountain valley becomes noticeably colder than the Cholpon-Ata lakefront in the evening.
What to bring and how to behave
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Identity document and ticket
The name and details on a ticket must match the visitor. Keep the QR code offline and your phone charged.
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Clothes for changing weather
Lakeside afternoons can be hot, while evenings and Kyrchyn feel cooler. Carry a wind layer and rain protection.
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Water and a small food reserve
Food stalls will operate, but a queue should not make you miss the start you planned around.
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A safe distance
Never enter horse lanes, warm-up areas or competitors’ working space, even when the barrier looks informal.
Do not use flash around horses or trained raptors. Ask before taking a close portrait of a participant, particularly away from the arena. National dress does not turn someone into a free model for visitors.
You can visit Rukh Ordo or the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs outside your chosen programme, but do not squeeze an ordinary excursion between two fixed starts. During the Games, Rukh Ordo becomes an event venue and its usual visiting arrangements may change.
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2026 World Nomad Games?
The sixth World Nomad Games run from 31 August to 6 September 2026. The opening is scheduled for 31 August in Bishkek, followed by the main Issyk-Kul programme from 1 to 6 September.
Where should I stay during the Games?
Stay in Bishkek for the opening. For the main week, choose Cholpon-Ata, Baktuu-Dolonotu or another nearby settlement on Issyk-Kul's north shore. Bishkek is too far away for a daily commute.
Does every event require a ticket?
No. The approved programme lists several free venues, including Kyrchyn, wrestling, board games and preliminary horse-game matches. The opening, closing, finals and some festival venues require tickets.
Can I visit Kyrchyn for only a few hours?
You can, but the access journey, drop-off and large site consume time. A dedicated day with confirmed return transport works much better.
Are the Games suitable for children?
Rules differ by venue. The opening is listed as 7+, and every visitor needs a personal ticket. For outdoor sites, consider sun, cold evenings, walking distances, noise and proximity to animals.
Where should I check programme changes?
Use the official World Nomad Games website and state ticketing systems. Recheck your event on the previous evening and again on the morning of your visit.
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