The Three Games of Naadam: A Guide to Mongolian Wrestling, Horse Racing, and Archery
Wrestling, horse racing, and archery are the three games of Naadam — what each one is, how it works, and how to watch, from a local team.
Mongolian Archery at Naadam: How to Read the Bow, the Wall, and the Chant
Mongolian archery is one of the three games of Naadam, alongside wrestling and horse racing. Men and women shoot blunt arrows at a low wall of small leather cylinders set on the gr
Mongolian Horse Racing at Naadam: How the Steppe’s Oldest Race Really Works
Mongolian horse racing at Naadam is a cross-country event run over open steppe, not a track. Horses are graded into six classes by their age, racing roughly 12 to 30 kilometers dep
Mongolian Wrestling (Bökh): A Traveler’s Guide to the Heart of Naadam
Mongolian wrestling, called bökh, is the centerpiece of the Naadam festival. It is a single-elimination contest with no weight classes and no time limit, where a wrestler loses th
Naadam Festival Statistics (2026): 37 Facts on Mongolia’s Three Manly Games, Wrestlers, and Horse Racing
Over 105,000 horses ridden by child jockeys compete across Mongolia’s naadams each year. At the national tournament alone, 512 of the country’s top wrestlers met in sin
Best Time to Visit Mongolia: A Local Guide to Every Season, Month by Month
Find the best time to visit Mongolia for ideal weather, festivals, and fewer crowds. Our local team breaks down every month so you can plan with confidence.
Naadam Festival 2026: Dates, Where to Watch, and an Insider Guide from Ulaanbaatar
Naadam Festival 2026 runs July 11–13 at the National Central Stadium in Ulaanbaatar, with the grand opening ceremony beginning at 11:00 AM on July 11. Mongolia’s bigges
