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Mongolian Events and Festivals 2021
From enjoying famous Naadam Festival in July to helping nomads' daily life in spring time, photographing wild horses in the NP to experiencing centuries old traditions of nomadic horseback archery and falconary and much more great adventures await you in Mongolia and should be on your 2020 bucket list!
Lunar New Year-Tsagaan Sar
Date – February 24-26, 2020
Location- every corner of Mongolia
Tsagaan Sar-White Moon celebration is one of Mongolian biggest traditional festival which is celebrated on the first day of
the Lunar-new year to put some cheer in the endless winter months and mark the beginning of spring. Read more.
Winter Festival of Altai Nomads
Date -23-25 Feb , 2020
Location- Buhun-Uul, Ulgii soum
With aims to boost winter tourism and to promote culture of Kazakh ethnic people, Winter festival of Altai Nomads will be another winter attraction of Mongolia if you are planning to visit in March. The two day event includes various interesting activities connected with Eagle Hunting tradition such as Shakiru and Shirga, Tenge-ilu –coin grabbing competition, Kyz Huar game show, Khukhbar competition.
Ice festival of Mongolia
Date- March 2-3 , 2020
Location- Khovsgol Lake
Journey to Ice Festival on Khovsgol Lake, Northern Mongolia has become one of the main Mongolian winter tour ideas to both foreigners and local people. At this exciting event, you can enjoy and explore Mongolian nomadic culture, traditions, customs, uncommon performance of shaman Shaman rituals, folk music and dance show, lifestyle exploration of reindeer herders, Tsaatan people along with artistic ice sculptures and natural beauty. Read more.
Spring Golden Eagle Festival
Date – March 4-5, 2020
Location- Chinggis Khaanii Khuree Complex
The Golden Eagle Festival is organized two times a year officially in March in the capital city of Mongolia and in October in the Western region of the country. If you travel to Mongolia in March, you can discover and feel the taste of Spring Golden Eagle Festival near Ulaanbaatar. Read more.
Thousand Camel Festival
Date- March 6-7, 2020
Location- Bulgan town, Umnugovi province
The festival was first initiated in 1997 by locals of Umnugovi /south gobi/ province to celebrate Mongolian camels and protect the species and pass the rich Mongolian camel breeding heritage to the next generation. The highlights of two day festival will start with Camel Prada, which is open to any visitors who wish to attend and continue -The best Camel couple, Mongolian traditional knuckle-bone competition, Camel Polo, local theatre cultural performances, Camel race and interesting young camel race. Read more.
Silver Reeds Festival 2020
Date - March 7-8, 2020
Location- Khar-Us lake, Khovd province
Silver Reeds Festival takes place once a two year event and this year 8th festival will be brilliant opportunity to explore various ethnic groups with distinct traditional dwelling, lifestyle and traditions of literature and music and more. The province, Khovd which is located 1580km from Ulaanbaatar, is distinguished by its multi-cultural population and the aimag is home of more than 17 nationalities and ethnicities. In the festival, you will be able to discover numbers of competitions such as a marathon, ice shooting, dance and camel race, best couple on camelback, best traditional costumes competitions, skating marathon on the lake and other ice games.Read more.
Nauryz (Spring /New Life) Festival
Date- March 21-23, 2020
Location- Kazakh ethnic minorities throughout Mongolia
It is a New Year celebration for the Mongolian Kazakhs, many of whom live in the Bayan Ulgii province. Kazakhs call the month of March 'Nauryz' – this is the time of renewed life which comes with the spring. This holiday is full of the tradition of ethnic group Kazakhs and its rituals and customs. There are many mystical traditions of this minor ethnic group related to this celebration such as food, clothing and many more.
Ulaanbaatar Marathon
Date – May , 2020
Location – Ulaanbaatar
Are you an active runner? If yes, this marathon is for you! Brilliant opportunity to run the streets of the capital along with hundreds of locals and visitors. Named after capital Ulaanbaatar- International Marathon, which takes place on the third Saturday of every May, is the one of the interesting events for both experienced and inexperienced runners of citizens and visitors. The marathon starts from Sukhbaatar and finishes back in there.
Yak Festival
Date – on third week, May, 2020
Location – Khankhongor soum, Umnu-govi province
Mongolia has the second highest yak population in the world after China –Umnugobi province celebrates Mongolian Yak Festival every year. Mongolian Yak has many uses in nomadic daily life and its wool is used for making clothes. During the festive fun, yak-related activities include yak wrangling, yak rodeo, yak cheese-tasting, as well as the main event, a yak race across the gobi region.Read more.
Nomadic Naadam
Date – June 6, June 16, June 27
Location – Mongol nomadic camp (55km from Ulaanbaatar to the west)
This is mini version of Mongolian famed Naadam festival organized by Mongol Nomadic camp. The festival begins with Mongolian long song and traditional horse-head fiddle /Morin Khuur/ performance. There you can enjoy and experience legendary *Three Manly Games* of Mongols including Wrestling, Horse riding and Archery. You will have golden chance to see and photograph these games, traditional concerts and local participants as much as up closely to you. You can take short trip to explore this Nomadic Naadam and have unforgettable memory of Mongols tradition within one day travel.
Annual Crane Festival
Date- June 13 , 2020
Location- Binder soum, Khentii province
The annual Festival of Crane will be held June 7 on Shore of Tsagaan Lake, Binder soum of Khentii province. There are 15 species of cranes around the world and six of them are in Mongolia. The festival aims to introduce white-naped crane which is on the endangered animals’ list. There you can see traditional three manly sports, a tour of observing crane and shows of introducing nomadic life in this special festival. This festival gives you great bird watching and observing memories while your travel in the homeland of legendary Chinggis Khan.
Wind of Steppes - Moto music festival
Date – June, 2020
Location – Chonjin Boldog
This festival is quite unique festival connected with motorcycle riders with all types of motorcycles such as Chopper and more. The festival aims to show Moto sports of Mongolia, its development and exchange experiences with other foreign country’s participants. The festival will be held in Chonjin Boldog where Chinggis Khan equestrian Statue, there will be music festival in the evening out there. If you want to enjoy Mongolian Moto sport and modern music while in your travel in Mongolia, you should participate this festival in June.
The ceremony of Gongor Bumba
Date- June , 2020
Location- Amarbaysgalant monastery, Selenge province
The celebration of Gongor Bumba in Amarbaysgalant monastery is one of the most important holidays for Mongolian Buddhists. This yearly event is organized to make offerings for Gongor( White Buddha), a protective deity who abolishes difficulties and makes people abundant in property and food. This largest of the religious rituals will take place on June and religious worshippers, followers and lamas believe that Gongor ingot ceremony brings plenty of wealth and gather once a year at Amarbayasgalant monastery. The amarbaysgalant monastery is one of the must-see attractions of both religious and historical destinations if you make a trip to Mongolia.
Mongolian Gobi Ultra Marathon MGU 225KM 2020
Date – June 26, 2020
Location – Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune
The MGU225km is well-known that the most wonderful and challenging event for ultra runners in the world. Since 2013, it is a combined event of great travel, running, walking & great challenge, including wild nature, blue sky, nomadic life, horse riding, camel riding, fire ceremony, sandy mountain, night running, much more things. There are many runners who have participated in previous 6 years without missing. There is no traffic and buildings in the steppe and Gobi. There will only YOU and wild nature. MGU 225km will be the greatest challenge for you in 2020.
Hunnu music festival
Date – June 29-30, 2020
Location- Tsonjin Boldog, Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue
Named after, one of Mongolian powerful empire and also one of world’s 7 biggest civilization, Hunnu festival is organized on purpose of introducing local tourism and modern Mongolia through all genre’s of electronic ,hip hop and dance music of Mongolia and worldwide. The festival is hold in Chinggis Khaan statue complex each year.
Play time festival
Date- July 3-5, 2020
Location- Gachuurt village, 30 km from Ulaanbaatar
It is the biggest outdoor Mongolian live music festival including Rock, Metal, Indie musicians of all kinds of live music bands around the country and overseas. The play time festival usually holds in mid of July in near of UB city, Gachuurt. You can enjoy and feel upcoming brand new live music of modern Mongolia and World together with young generations of Mongolia.
Tsaatan festival
Dates- July 7-8 , 2020
Location- Khatgal village, Khovsgol province
Tsaatan reindeer herders in northern region of the country all gathers from the depth of Taiga and throws their rare-special Tsaatan festival in the beginning of July. Mysterious life and culture of Tsaatan reindeer herders have been chosen as top travel destination of Mongolia by their oldest religious ritual- Shamanism and ever-changed beauty of deep-Taiga wilderness and stunning fresh water- Khovgsol Lake. It is so worth to travel and experience many unexpected adventures and customs at same time.
Nomadic Culture Festival
Dates- July 6, 2020
Location- Teeliin Gol, Erdenekhairkahn soum, Zavkhan province
Nomadic Culture festival is becoming one of best and unique festivals in western region of Mongolia. The festival brings back ancient nomadic life, style, tradition, customs and unique culture to the modern time by introducing herder’s way of life, displaying and showing their rituals through the festival. Read more.
National Costume festival Mongolia
Date- July 10, 2020
Location- Chinggis square, Ulaanbaatar city
Day before Naadam festival, you can see different types and patterns of national costume of all ethnic group of Mongolia together in National Costume festival. It consists of Mongolian costume national runway, cultural performance, a contest of best-dressed couple in Mongolian national costume, a contest of best-dressed foreigner in Mongolian national costume, a contest of public dance and the best dancing couple and closing ceremony-Award ceremony.
National Naadam festival
Dates-11-13 July, 2020
Location- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Top travel attraction throughout the whole year is definitely Naadam festival. It will be never forgotten experience of nomadic life, discovery of adventure and culture of Mongolian people through Naadam festival.
Yak Festival
Date: July 22, 2020
Location: Bat-ulziit soum, Uvurkhangai province
The Yak Festival is one of the most important festivals in Mongolia and is held every year on July 22 in Orkhon Valley of Uvurkhangai Province. Nomadic culture in the Khangai Mountains is very strong, and the area has one of the highest concentrations of yaks in the world.
The event is eagerly anticipated by the community, and the event includes yak racing and showing, wild stallion and yak riding, milking contests and other traditional Naadam events of horse racing, wrestling, and archery.
Bogd Khan Mountain Trail 2020
Date –July or August, 2020
Location- Bogd Khan Mountain
If you are active runner who willing to achieve special points for running carrier, the race is one of the UTMB qualifying race! Finishers can get 3 ITRA points for the completion of the 64km trail run! The winner of 64km trail run can get 500 points from the Asia Trail Master Championship organization. You can challenge in the 10km and 21km categories.
Danshig Naadam religious festival
Date – Aug or Sept, 2020
Location – Khui Doloon Khudag
The biggest Mongolian religious festival called Danshig Naadam which its first was held in 1639 for enthroning 1st Bogd Jebtsundamba Khutukhtu. After re-celebrating since 2015, Danshig Naadam religious festival offers variety of cultural performances including traditional folk dance and song, performance of contortion; wrestling, archery, knuckle-bone shooting and religious competitions. Read more.
Journey to Little 99 warriors
Date – August 5, 2020
Location – Tsaidam camp, Khashaat soum, Arkhangai province
If you travelling with your kids or interesting about how Mongolian nomadic kids grow up and their roles and abilities regardless of their young age, it is the best to stop over and participate in annual Journey of 99 little warriors while travelling around Khushuu Tsaidam-known as Orkhon Inscription written in Old Turkic alphabet in the early 8th century in Orkhon Valley. Read more.
Orkhon Valley Horse Festival
Date – August 7, 2020
Location – Tsaidam bag, Khashaat soum, Arkhangai province
There are many horse related festival throughout Mongolia, but this festival is so unique because of the location Orkhon Valley-listed in historical sites of UNESCO. This festival will be good choice for those who want to experience land of horse, riding and challenging competitions among men and capability and beauty of Mongolian horses.You can experience many cultural rituals and contests all related with horse and horsemen activities including lassoing horse, grabbing a lasso pole from land while riding horse, horse bucking, race of foal horses. Read more.
Ceremony of Gongor Bumba
Date- Aug ,2020
Location- Amarbaysgalant monastery, Selenge province
The celebration of Gongor Bumba in Amarbaysgalant monastery is one of the most important holidays for Mongolian Buddhists. This largest of the religious rituals will take place on Aug and religious worshippers, followers and lamas believe that Gongor ingot ceremony brings plenty of wealth and gather once a year at Amarbayasgalant monastery. During August, there will be tsam dance -worshipping ritual in Amarbayasgalant monastery.
Sand festival in western Mongolia
Date- Aug 8-9 , 2020
Location – Gun Nuur, Mongolian Great Sand, Gobi-Altai province
The annual Sand festival will take place on July 27-29 at Ereen Lake, Jargalan soum, Gobi-Altai province. Surrounding areas in the lakes is beautiful with great sand sitting in Gobi-Khangai region, western Mongolia. The province is the second biggest province which is famous for its oasis’ about 1130 km far from UB. There will be various cultural events and sand competitions as sand volleyball, relay race to mountain top, sand sumo wrestling, polo match, anklebone shooting, foal racing and more.
Mongol Yak Festival
Dates- Aug -18, 2020
Location- Ikh Tamir, Arkhangai province
Annual yak festival in Orkhon Valley is one of most important festivals in central reign of the country where there has one of highest concentration of yaks throughout globe. Culture and tradition of nomadic herders in Khangai Mountain are so strong and yak is one of their distinctive from other regions of the country. The festival is quite uncommon only based on activities of Khangai Mountain yaks including yak racing, yak showing, wild stallion, yak riding and milking. Orkhon Valley is also one of must travel destinations of Mongolia, where has numerous natural and historical important sites in Mongolian history. Read more.
Sagsai Golden Eagle Festival
Date- Sept 17-18, 2020
Location- Sagsai village, Bayan-Ulgii province
From 2020, We, Ayan Travel Mongolia will organize our own Sagsai Eagle Festival annually on September 18-19, in Sagsai soum, western Mongolia.
We are inviting you join our private or joining group /photographic or amateurs all possible/ expedition to the Sagsai Eagle Festival by Ayan Travel Mongolia.
Spirit- Horseback Archery Tournament
Date- Sept ,2020
Location- Ulaanbaatar Horseracing center
Mongolian Open Horseback Archery tournament with no limit on number of archers and anticipating around 100 participants from Mongolia, UK, Sweden, Finland, Malaysai, USA and South Africa. Also horseback event will include Hungarian, Korean, Kazakh and Mongolian styles. It is brilliant chance to eyewithness Legendary horseback archery and martial arts in the land of Chinggis Khan. Read more.
Golden Eagle Festival
Date - October 3-4, 2020
Location - Bugat village, Bayan-Ulgii province
The Golden Eagle Festival starts with its parades and competitions for costuming and hunting techniques. This festival has been celebrated since 2000 and now attracts many travelers and photographers. Each year the number of eagle hunters participating the festival is increasing which makes the festival more colorful and spectacular. The eagles chase fox skins dragged by their owners on horseback. Points are given for their speed and gripping ability. In 2 days you will capture plenty of portraits and competition photos, names Kokbar, Kizkhuar etc.
Steppe Winter Horses
Date – on weekend of 3rd week, November, 2020
Location- Khentii province
Mongolia is the land of horses and Mongolia horse related festivals have its own specific tradition and colors especially, winter horse festival- TaliinTumen Aduu in eastern region. You can see legendary Chinggis Khan’s powerful horses and its good stamina through Mongolian horse training skills as taming, lassoing, picking up pegs from ground while on horseback. Read more.
