The Naadam Festival in Mongolia

The Mongol nomads who are sparsely distributed throughout the vast territory of the country would gather altogether to celebrate the Naadam Festival once every year in July.  The official Naadam celebration annually takes place throughout the country on 11 and 12 July and all provinces and towns celebrate their festivals respectively on their own dates in July.  It is a festival that puts competitors’ bravery, speed and skills to the test. The word Naadam literally means ‘’Games’’. The festival is also locally termed "Eriin Gurvan Naadam" meaning "The Three Manly Games". The games are Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery, and are held throughout the country during midsummer. Women have started participating in archery and girls in horse-racing games, but not in Mongolian wrestling. 

In 2010, Naadam was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO. Naadam is an annual festival celebrated by Mongolians since the time of the Hunnus. Even, the core of the festival – three manly sports – wrestling, horseracing and archery, embrace many elements of arts, such as singing, dancing and performing. Nomadic Mongolians have known when to throw parties. Naadam Festival is held in the most enjoyable month of the most pleasant season in the country. Therefore, everyone takes the opportunity and enjoys the Festival on a diverse schedule such as travelling to the countryside, camping out and gathering in their closest herds. Everyone is so looking forward to Naadam that after each Naadam, Naadamers moan that the next Naadam is too long to wait. Don’t be one of those moaning about the next Naadam being too long to wait!

If you would like to visit this Festival, which is the only one of its kind, in the world. Please see our Naadam festival tour click here.