Naadam Festival 2026
Festival program
All events of the national Naadam in Ulaanbaatar. Events marked free need no ticket — only the stadium ceremonies do.
10 July
State flag ceremony
Free — no ticket neededThe national flag is raised on Sükhbaatar Square with an honour guard, opening the festival days.
Deeltei Mongol parade
Free — no ticket neededThousands in traditional dress from all 21 aimags parade across Sükhbaatar Square — folk concerts, deel fashion shows and craft stalls. The most photogenic free event of the year.
11 July
Shagai — ankle-bone shooting rounds
Free — no ticket neededContinuous team competition in the shagai hall by the archery field. Free.
Archery — Khalkh & Buriad rounds
Free — no ticket neededTeam rounds on the National Archery Field. Listen for the uukhai praise chant. Free all day.
Procession of the Nine White Banners
Free — no ticket neededMounted honour guards carry the white horse-tail standards of the state from Government House to the National Sports Stadium.
Ikh nas race — adult horses
Free — no ticket neededThe first great race: adult horses over ~24 km of open steppe at Khui Doloon Khudag. Free.
Opening ceremony
Ticket requiredHundreds of horsemen, dancers, khöömii singers and athletes' oaths beneath the Nine White Banners. The one Naadam event that requires a ticket.
Wrestling — rounds 1–2
Ticket required512 wrestlers open the tournament. Afternoon entry after the ceremony crowd leaves is the insider's way to watch.
Naadam evening concert
Free — no ticket neededOpen-air concert and celebrations on Sükhbaatar Square. Free.
12 July
Morning races — soyolon & others
Free — no ticket neededThe classic Naadam dawn: several age-class races finish through the morning at Khui Doloon Khudag. Leave the city by 06:00. Free.
Archery & shagai finals
Free — no ticket neededIndividual finals across the three archery traditions and the shagai championship. Free.
Wrestling — rounds 3–9 & finals
Ticket requiredThe tournament narrows to the final pair; titles are awarded beneath the banners at the closing ceremony.
Closing ceremony
Ticket requiredChampions honoured beneath the Nine White Banners; the standards return to Government House.
13 July
Horse trainers' naadam — daaga races
Free — no ticket neededThe horsemen's own day at Khui Doloon Khudag: two-year-old daaga races and trainer honours, from 07:00. Free.
Venues & getting there
Sükhbaatar Square
Ulaanbaatar's central square. Hosts the Deeltei Mongol costume parade on 10 July, evening concerts and ceremonies around the state flag.
Getting there: City centre — walkable from most hotels.
National Archery Field
Next to the National Sports Stadium. Khalkh, Buriad and Uriankhai archery competitions and shagai (ankle-bone shooting) run all three days. Free and wonderfully close-up — you hear the judges sing the uukhai praise call.
Getting there: Immediately beside the main stadium — combine it with a wrestling session. No ticket needed.
Khui Doloon Khudag
The open steppe about 35 km west of Ulaanbaatar where all horse races start and finish. During Naadam it becomes a temporary festival city of gers, food stalls and thousands of horses. Free to attend — no tickets.
Getting there: Leave the city by 06:00 on race days or you will spend the morning in traffic. Shared minibuses run from Dragon bus terminal; most visitors go with a tour or hired car. Bring sun protection, water and cash.
National Sports Stadium
The heart of the national Naadam in Khan-Uul district, Ulaanbaatar. Hosts the opening and closing ceremonies and all nine rounds of wrestling. Around 12,500 seats; the ceremony is the only part of Naadam that requires a ticket.
Getting there: About 3 km south of Sukhbaatar Square. Walk (40 min), take a taxi (10–15 min, agree the price first) or city buses toward Khan-Uul. Roads close around the ceremony — arrive at least an hour early.