From August 31 to September 6, 2026, Kyrgyzstan will host the VI World Nomad Games (WNG). At a press conference held at the "Kabar" agency, the director of the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazybek Moldazhiyev, shared details about the event, including the venue and innovations in the program.
He noted that in late December 2025, Kyrgyzstan was granted the right to host the World Nomad Games. "This achievement confirms our responsibility for developing the format, rules, and concept of the Games," Moldazhiyev added.
The head of the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports emphasized that interest in the World Nomad Games from the international community is significantly increasing each year.
"43 types of national and traditional sports are registered for the VI Games," he reported.Looking at the statistics, the first WNG in 2014 had participants from 19 countries, in 2016 there were 62 countries, in 2018 there were 82, in 2022 there were 79, and in 2024 there were already 89 countries.
The number of participants has also significantly increased: in 2014, 771 athletes participated in the Games, while in 2024, there were about 2,500. For the VI World Nomad Games, participation from over 100 countries and more than 3,000 athletes is expected.
According to Kazybek Moldazhiyev, the opening of the VI World Nomad Games will take place on August 31, 2026, coinciding with the anniversary summit of the SCO. The ceremony will be held in Bishkek at the new "Bishkek Arena" stadium.
One of the features of this year's Games will be the format of their conduct.
"On August 31, the opening ceremony will take place in the capital, and from September 1, participants will be organized to go to Cholpon-Ata (Issyk-Kul region) for accommodation. The Games will start on September 2 and conclude on September 6 in Cholpon-Ata," he clarified.Competitions are planned to be held at four main venues: the hippodrome, the "Gazprom" Sports Complex, the "Rukh-Ordo" ethnocomplex, and Kychyn.
Program of the Games
The program of the World Nomad Games includes eight main directions:
- national games of the peoples of the world;
- horse racing;
- competitions on horseback;
- traditional wrestling;
- strength sports;
- intellectual games;
- traditional archery;
- national hunting with birds of prey and dogs.
Kazybek Moldazhiyev noted that equestrian sports occupy a central place in the World Nomad Games, as they attract the most interest from spectators and the media.
"The game of kokpar has been added to the program of the VI WNG alongside kok-boru. We emphasize that sport is outside politics and promote ethnoculture and ethnosport. Our teams will also participate in kokpar," he reported.He added that for the first time, the "great kok-boru player" and "great kok-boru horse" will be awarded at the end of the Games, which will attract additional interest and serve as an incentive for athletes. The club format in kok-boru will not be applied; the competitions will take place in the traditional format.
Additionally, Nursultan Adenov, head of the International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games, reported that the program also includes national wrestling styles from the peoples of Yakutia and Buryatia. "These peoples are actively interested in the Games, and one of the largest delegations of participants will be from Russia," he emphasized.
It is noted that the main criterion for including disciplines in the program is their historical significance, with a preference for ancient and traditional sports.
Slogan of the Games
Kazybek Moldazhiyev stated that the slogan of the VI World Nomad Games will be: "United in strength, united in spirit.""Sport unites everyone. Kyrgyzstan, as a flagship of ethnoculture and ethnosport, must demonstrate this unity," he added.
Additional Expectations
Nursultan Adenov noted that the government is paying special attention to the preparation for the VI Games. "We started preparations in advance, as we strive to conduct the Games at a very high level. We are setting the bar higher than in 2018," he said.
In addition to sports events, an extensive cultural program is planned. It will include evening concerts and an international ethnic festival, with participation from about 40 countries showcasing the cultures of the world's peoples in areas such as ethno-hits, ethno-fashion, ethno-dance, and ethno-storytelling.
"Kyrgyzstan will create an atmosphere of traditional ethnic culture for the world, allowing tourists to immerse themselves for an entire week," Adenov noted.
There are also plans to create exhibition tourist zones, which will serve as an additional tool for promoting Kyrgyzstan's tourism potential.
As reported by Kazybek Moldazhiyev, the total prize fund of the VI World Nomad Games, with the support of sponsors, will exceed 49 million soms. From the state budget, 336 million soms are allocated for the organization of the Games. Participants will also receive gift packages with various presents.
He specifically noted that the prize fund for horse racing will be from 1 million soms for first place, while for kok-boru competitions, it will be 5 million soms.
