A Guide to the Festivals of Mongolia

Mongolia’s rich cultural traditions are vividly brought to life through its festivals, traditional celebrations deeply intertwined with the nation’s history and nomadic way of life. For a vast and sparsely inhabited country where endless steppe, rugged highlands, inhospitable desert and a harsh climate have shaped a resilient way of life, these festivals represent far more than mere events. In many ways they are the lifeblood of Mongolian identity, preserving ancestral skills and oral traditions whilst reinforcing the values of community, kinship and harmony with nature. From Naadam, the nation’s most celebrated event and the Golden Eagle Festival which showcases the ancient Kazakh art of eagle hunting to the Khovsgol Ice Festival held atop the frozen expanse of Lake Khovsgol and Tsagaan Sar, Mongolian Lunar New Year, this guide focuses on four of Mongolia’s most important festivals.

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Held throughout the country across every province, Naadam is Mongolia’s most revered national celebration and is rooted in centuries of nomadic tradition. Although the grandest spectacle, and focal point of the festivities, is at the central stadium in capital Ulaanbaatar, smaller gatherings are held in most towns and villages. Naadam, which means ‘games’, has roots that date back centuries when gatherings were held for warriors to test their strength, skill and stamina through traditional sports that mirrored the demands encountered in battle. The festival centres on what are known as the ‘Three Games of Men’ – wrestling, horse racing and archery and although tradition dictates only men can wrestle, both men and women participate in archery and children are regularly selected as jockeys. A vibrant display of Mongolian culture, colourfully attired spectators watch wrestlers clad in traditional zodog and shuudag while jockeys guide horses across the steppe in races spanning dozens of kilometres and archers demonstrate their accuracy with bows crafted in the ancient style. Naadam reinforces communal bonds, honours Mongolia’s age-old traditions and ensures the transmission of this rich heritage to future generations.

Where: Nationwide, but most famous celebrations are in Ulaanbaatar
Dates: July

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The Golden Eagle Festival, held annually in the rugged, wild and remote highlands of western Mongolia is a celebration of the tradition of eagle hunting, where skilled hunters showcase their abilities with trained golden eagles. Established to preserve this ancient Kazakh art, a form of hunting which is believed to have been practiced for millennia, the festival draws hunters, known as burkitshi, from across the region each accompanied by their meticulously trained eagles. These birds, revered as both companions and symbols of strength, are central to the nomadic Kazakh way of life, their keen eyesight and lethal precision once vital for survival in this harsh wilderness. Competitions test the eagles’ agility in pursuing prey, often using fox pelts dragged across the steppe, while accompanying horsemanship displays and archery contests showcase prowess in other key skills. Judges assess not only speed and accuracy of the hunt but also the harmony between hunter and bird, a relationship forged through years of training and trust. Beyond the contests, traditional dress, handicrafts, music and food immerse visitors in Kazakh culture for an experience that truly epitomises Mongolia.

Where: Bayan-Ölgii Province, western Mongolia
Dates: October

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As the Siberian winds sweep across northern Mongolia, the frozen expanse of Lake Khovsgol becomes the stage for one of Central Asia’s most unique spectacles, the Khovsgol Ice Festival. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Khovsgol, located within pristine Khovsgol National Park in the far north of Mongolia, are one of the world's largest freshwater reserves and known regionally as the ‘Blue Pearl of Mongolia’. Held in early March when the ice is at its thickest and winter temperatures regularly drop below -35°C, the ice festival is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Darkhad and Tsaatan communities for whom the lake holds spiritual significance. The festivities also draw nomadic herders and competitors from far and wide. Activities range from ice sledding, horse-drawn sleigh races and tug-o'-war to traditional archery competitions and the ever-popular knuckle-bone shooting where marble tablets are flicked towards a target of sheep knuckle-bones – a game recognised on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Yet, at the festival’s heart, is its setting – the vast, snow-draped landscapes of the Khovsgol region, where the taiga meets the steppe in a fairytale, frozen, wilderness.

Where: Lake Khovsgol
Dates: March

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Tsagaan Sar, Mongolian New Year, is celebrated annually between the end of January and end of February. Ancient and revered, the festival holds a profound cultural significance for Mongolians and coincides with the first new moon that follows the winter solstice. Tsagaan Sar transforms the vast, snow-laden, steppes, remote towns and cities of Mongolia. Families gather in their gers sharing symbolic offerings of dairy products, rice and steamed dumplings whilst community events also take place throughout the country. Embodying the triumph of light over darkness and the awakening of nature from its harsh winter slumber, the festival’s origins can be traced back to pre-Buddhist shamanistic rites that were later intertwined with Tibetan Buddhist customs. The importance of Tsagaan Sar lies in purification, prosperity and strengthening of kinship bonds. Elders are honoured, gifts are exchanged, music played and food shared to symbolise abundance. In Ulaanbaatar temples such as Gandantegchinlen Monastery host grand prayers, whilst nomadic herders across the Gobi and Khangai regions perform tsam dances to ward off misfortune. The festival’s climax sees families unite for a lavish feast, sharing airag, fermented mare’s milk, whilst recounting tales of the past year.

Where: Nationwide
Dates: Between end of January and end of February

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