Festivals in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a country rich in culture and deeply rooted in its folk traditions. Throughout the year, a variety of festivals and celebrations take place, offering travelers an immersive experience into the authentic spirit of this remarkable land.

The festivals in Kyrgyzstan showcase the country’s storied history and the nomadic heritage of its people. Visitors can enjoy sporting events, races, and demonstrations, alongside displays of handcrafted goods, traditional cuisine, and cultural performances. These festivals serve not only as a means of preserving age-old customs but also as gatherings that bring together people from across the globe.

Among the most popular festivals are those dedicated to arts and crafts, Kyrgyz cuisine, folklore, felt-making, eagle hunting, and traditional horse games. Many of these vibrant events are held in the scenic jailoos (high-altitude summer pastures), where yurts offer an authentic experience, featuring local dishes and handmade crafts for sale.

Kyrgyz festivals are the perfect opportunity to discover and celebrate the country’s unique traditions and cultural heritage.

• March 21-24 – Nooruz
  Celebrate Nooruz with exhibitions from local artisans. The event takes place in Bishkek and throughout all regions of Kyrgyzstan.

• Early May – Official Opening of the Summer Tourism Season
  A grand fair to mark the beginning of the tourism season. Held at the Ruh Ordo Cultural Center in Cholpon-Ata.

• Mid-June – Tengri Music Festival
  An open-air classical music festival hosted at the Ruh Ordo Cultural Center in Cholpon-Ata.

• Late June – Kymyz Festival
  Enjoy Kyrgyzstan’s traditional fermented drink, kymyz, while learning about its health benefits. Held in Kochkor village, Naryn region.

• Late June – Kyrgyz Shyrdag Crafts Festival
  A gathering of felt artisans and craftsmen from across the country. Held at the stadium in At-Bashy village, Naryn region.

• Mid-July – National Cuisine Festival
  Learn to cook traditional Kyrgyz dishes such as kocho-pepel, gul-manty, and katama, followed by tastings. Held in Jalalabad city.

• Mid-July – Ethno-Festival Teskek Jjeek
  Featuring sports competitions, yurt-building contests, folk performances, horse games, a crafts fair, and traditional Kyrgyz cuisine.

• Late July – Mountain Tourism Festival
  National games like ulak-tartysh, kyz-kuumai, tiyin-enmei, and er-enish, along with folk shows and traditional cuisine. Held at Lenin Peak’s base camp in Chon-Alay.

• July – Festival of National Horse Games
  Enjoy thrilling horse games at the high-altitude Son-Kul Lake, including ulak-tartysh, kyz-kuumai, tiyin-enmei, and er-enish. Held at Son-Kul Lake in the Naryn region.

• July-August – Oyomo Festival
  This arts festival includes craft parades, workshops for children and adults, and an ethno-fashion show. Held at Ala-Too Square in Bishkek.

• Late July – Festival of National Horse Games
  Traditional horse games such as ulak-tartysh, kyz-kuumai, tiyin-enmei, and er-enish. Held in Kyzyl-Oi village.

• Early August – Apricot Festival
  Celebrate the warm summer season with heaps of delicious Issyk-Kul apricots. Held at Kekilik Beach in Ton village.

• Early August – Mountaineering on the Pamirs
  Experience national games, performances, climbing, trekking, skiing, horseback riding, and yak tours. Held at the Lenin Peak base camp in Chon-Alay, Achyktash gorge.

• Early August – Festival of Hunting Birds
  A showcase of hunting birds, artisans, national games, folklore performances, and yurt-building contests. Held at Jaichy Yurt Camp, Kek-Sai village, Bokonbaevo.

• Mid-August – Salbuurun Festival
  A nomadic sporting festival featuring horseback games, archery contests, and traditional group hunting with hunting dogs and eagles. Held at Uch-Korgon, Bokonbaevo village.

• Late August – Kyrgyz Mayram Kurman Ait Festival
  Sporting competitions including horse races (at-chabysh), ulak-tartysh, er-enish, Kyrgyz wrestling (kyrgyz-kurosh), and salbuurun. Held in Aksy district, Jalal-Abad region, at the village of Ak-Döbö.

• Mid-September – Nukura Festival
  A celebration of Kyrgyz national traditions with exhibitions of crafts, cuisine, workshops, and sporting events. Held at Ala-Too Stadium in Naryn city.