Kyrgyzstan, host of the 2026 edition of the World Nomad Games, says the opening ceremony will be held in Bishkek on August 31 and the games will end on the shores of the scenic Lake Issyk-Kul on September 6.
The dates of the games were announced on Tuesday by the organizing committee, which expects participants and guests from more than 89 countries. Aside from the opener in the Kyrgyz capital, the main schedule of the games will be held at Issyk-Kul, a northeastern resort area near the border with Kazakhstan.
Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland
Kyrgyzstan hosted the first three World Nomad Games in the same area in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The 2022 games were held in Turkey, and the last edition in 2024 occurred in Kazakhstan. The games have expanded over the years, providing a showcase for the cultural heritage of Central Asian and regional societies through sports involving birds of prey, dogs, horses, wrestling, archery, as well as displays of agility and other physical feats.
The games will demonstrate Kyrgyzstan’s role as “an international platform for cultural dialogue,” organizers said.
Earlier this month, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov invited cultural and sports delegations from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to participate in the games next year. He spoke during a meeting of SCO leaders in Tianjin, China. The Eurasian group’s members include Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
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