Festivals & events

Mongolia's festival calendar

Plan your trip around a celebration. Dates follow tradition (and sometimes the lunar calendar) — ask us for this year's exact days.

February

January–February (lunar calendar)

The "White Moon" family holiday: steamed buuz, greetings to elders and the first sunrise of the year.

Early March

Horse-sleigh races, ice sculptures and ice-skating on the frozen "Blue Pearl" of Mongolia.

Early March

Camel races, camel polo and a parade of Bactrian camels in the Gobi.

11–13 July every year

The "three games of men" — wrestling, horse racing and archery — and Mongolia's biggest national holiday.

Early October (usually the first weekend)

Kazakh eagle hunters from the Altai mountains compete with their golden eagles.

Want to join a festival?

Festival dates fill up fast — tell us which one and we'll plan the trip around it.