What are the traditional festivals in Mongolia?
Mongolia's main festivals are Naadam (July 11-13), the national celebration featuring horse racing, wrestling and archery, and Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year (January-February) marked by family banquets. Some regions also host eagle hunter and shamanism festivals.
The two major national celebrations
Naadam (July 11-13) is Mongolia's foremost national celebration. This ancestral festival honors the "three manly sports": horse racing (with young riders), traditional Mongolian wrestling, and archery. The main event takes place in Ulan Bator, but each region organizes its own Naadam.
Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian lunar New Year, is celebrated in January or February according to the lunar calendar. This week-long family celebration brings families together around traditional banquets featuring boiled mutton, aaruul (dried cheese), and airag (fermented mare's milk).
Authentic regional festivals
- Festival of eagle hunters: in western Mongolia (Bayan-Ölgii), Kazakh hunters showcase their golden eagles.
- Shamanism festivals: traditional spiritual ceremonies in certain remote regions.
Remember for your trip
Attending Naadam offers an exceptional immersion in nomadic culture. Book your accommodation in advance as this period attracts many visitors.