2026 WORLD NOMAD GAMES

On August 31, 2026, the 6th World Nomad Games opened in Kyrgyzstan. Athletes and cultural and academic representatives from over 100 countries around the world gathered in Kyrgyzstan. Professor Chen Ping, Global President of the International Organization of Folk Arts (IOV), Chief Chair of the UNESCO Chair on the Inheritance and Innovation of Traditional Handicrafts, and Dean of the Institute of Cultural Heritage and Creative Industries at Jinan University, was invited by Kyrgyzstan to participate in a series of cultural activities held in the Issyk Kul region.

Official poster of the 6th World Nomad Games

The World Nomad Games will be held from August 31st to September 6th. On August 31st, the grand opening ceremony was held in the capital city of Bishkek; Starting from September 1st, major sports events as well as cultural and scientific activities will be relocated to the Issyk Kul region. The conference will set up 43 traditional sports competitions and arrange rich cultural projects such as traditional music, ethnic costumes, handicrafts, food culture, and nomadic lifestyle exhibitions. The World Nomad Games were initiated by Kyrgyzstan in 2014 and have gradually become an important platform for showcasing nomadic civilization and conducting international cultural exchanges over the past decade.

“Echoes of the Nomadism”Traditional music gathers by Lake Issyk Kul

On September 1st, the "Echo of the Nomads" International Ethnic Music Festival opened in Jopong Ata, Issyk Kul. Ulan Mamatkanov, Vice Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Salkyn Sarnogoeva, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy, arrived at the scene. Mamatkanov stated in his speech that after the opening ceremony in Bishkek, the main sports, cultural, and scientific activities of this year's Games will be held along the shores of Lake Issyk Kul.

Live Opening Ceremony of the International Ethnic Music Festival "Echoes of the Nomads"

Ulan Mamatkanov, Vice Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, attended the opening ceremony of the "Echoes of the Nomads" International Ethnic Music Festival and delivered a speech

The music festival gathers traditional musicians and art groups from different countries. Ethnic music, songs, dances, and costumes are interwoven and presented by the lake, marking the beginning of the Issyk Kul cultural activities this year.

The "Echoes of the Nomad" music festival promotes cultural exchange and strengthens inter ethnic friendship by bringing together traditional music from different countries

Photo of some guests at the music festival

Kyrhyn grassland presents a 'Universe of Nomads - living heritage'

On September 2nd, the opening ceremony of the large-scale ethnic cultural event "Universe of Nomads - Living Heritage" at the 6th World Nomad Games was held on the Kyrhyn Grassland. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Director of the Presidential Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, visited Kyrhyn and visited traditional felt house cultural spaces representing seven regions of Kyrgyzstan. Adilbek Kassemaliev pointed out at the opening ceremony that the concept of "living heritage" not only means preserving the art left by ancestors, but also means extending it into daily life.

Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games Ethnic Town Large scale Ethnic Cultural Event "Nomad Universe: Living Heritage"

Cabinet Chairman Adilbek Kasimariev attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech

Participants from different countries travel between yurts and grasslands, getting up close to the traditional way of life and cultural heritage of nomadic peoples

On that day, the Kyrhyn grassland became an open stage for nomadic culture. Traditional felt houses, ethnic costumes, folk handicrafts, traditional games, singing and dancing, and daily customs are presented in a concentrated manner. The 'Journey of Unity' arrived at the main stage, and the large-scale live performance 'World · Life' was also staged. Participants from different countries travel between yurts and grasslands, getting up close to the traditional way of life and cultural heritage of nomadic peoples.

Kyrhyn grassland becomes an open stage for nomadic culture

Professor Chen Attend the opening ceremony of "Nomad Universe: Living Heritage"

Communicate ideas with the guests present

Nomad Fest brings together traditional handicrafts and ethnic arts

On the evening of September 2nd, the "Nomad Fest" International Music and Ethnology Festival "Nomad Festival" held its opening ceremony. Soyuzbek Nadyrbekov, the First Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He stated that the Nomad Festival is an important international cultural project that brings together nomadic civilization, ethnic culture, and modern ethnic artistic values. He emphasized that "culture is the most powerful tool that unites people and promotes peace and friendship. Through such a large-scale event, we will promote the spirit of nomadism and proudly pass on our cultural heritage to future generations.

Nomad Fest "International Music and Ethnology Festival" Nomad Festival "Event Scene

The Nomad Fest, which lasts for several days, covers ethnic music, dance, ethnic fashion, and folk crafts, and arranges exhibitions and exchanges of traditional crafts. The opening ceremony featured an artistic performance with the epic poem "Manas" as an important cultural element. Artists, artisans, and cultural workers from different countries gather here, presenting another rich cultural landscape of Lake Issyk Kul beyond sports events.

From the ethnic music of Jopong Ata, to the felt houses, handicrafts, and traditional life on the Kyrhyn grassland, to the multi-national art exchange at Nomad Fest, the cultural section of the World Nomad Games continues to unfold on Lake Issyk Kul. In the past few days, Chen Ping has participated in relevant activities and exchanged ideas with officials of the Kyrgyz government, representatives of international cultural institutions, as well as artists, craftsmen, and cultural workers from different countries. Traditional sports, folk art, and cultural heritage are interconnected in the same international event, forming the distinctive cultural characteristics of this year's World Nomad Games.