Naadam 2023 events

 

Naadam festival, (11-12 July 2023), is the happiest time in Mongolia. (national holiday July 10-15)
It is also the peak of the tourist season. 
In Mongolian Naadam is known as "eriin gurvan naadam" (эрийн гурван наадам), 
meaning - the 3 games of men. The 3 games are horse racing, archery and Mongolian wrestling. 
This year, a large number of wrestlers (1024 in all ) will compete. 
Some call it the Nomadic Olympic Games. 
These games have existed for centuries and incorporate warrior skills.

The festival is performed throughout the country. 
The central ceremonies and competitions are held in Ulaanbaatar.



All national Naadam events will take place in the city (Ulan Bator), except for the horse racing, 
which will take place in the Khui Doloon Khudag horse racing fields 
located west of Ulaanbaatar on the main road leading to Lun see map

Tickets for tourists
Tickets for opening and closing ceremonies will become available only during July 6-8 2023.
For the opening ceremony on July 11th tickets for tourists will cost 25USD
Tour operators and hotels can purchase ahead of time for their customers.
Tickets for the stadium 11-12 July events  cost 16,000MNT to 24,000MNT depending on location.
Tickets will be sold from July 6th, only 4 tickets per person will be sold.
Lines to the box office are long. Beware of pickpockets, stand in line with empty pockets.
Tickets can be purchased at the “Bukhiin Urguu” and “Soyoliin Tuv Urguu” ticket offices. 

Cost of tickets (color coded) for the 11-12 July 2023 events at the stadium 

(cost may vary depending on source of tickets)

Free bus shuttle during Naadam competitons
Free bus rides to the stadium and to the horse race fields 
will run during Naadam events from the following parking lots: 
Misheel EXPO  Мишээл EXPO
Dunjingarav  Дүнжингарав

Train schedule July 10-14 2023

Schedule from the central UB train station
to the horse race: 7:20, 10:55, 14:04, 17:15
from the horse race fields
back to UB: 8:25, 12:10, 15:13, 19:00

10-14 July 2023 train schedule with all the in between stations

Horse racing
Horse racing takes place at the horse racing fields - see Google map of racing location
The racing field is named  "khui Doloon Khudag" (Mongolian: Хүй долоон худаг)
Racing during 10-11-12-13 July, each day from 07:00 am to late afternoon.

Deeltei Mongol Festival 
Traditional dress festival
July 10th Sukhbaatar Square 

ALL Naadam events 
in Ulaanbaatar and nearby locations
https://www.montsame.mn/en/

Countryside Naadam

What to expect

Each aimag (province) will celebrate a 2 day local Naadam festival during July  2022.
These local events are aimed for the local communities, and are free of charge.
Each aimag decides what dates. The dates might change due to internal issues. 

Tourists are welcome to join, but there are limited facilities for tourists.  
Almost no English is spoken, there are no road signs directing you to the exact location of the Naadam celebration fields, your driver will have to ask around.
The events take place in open fields within a short drive from the Aimag (province) capital city.

In contrast to the main spectacular and somewhat touristic events in Ulaanbaatar, 

the countryside events give you a much closer point of view, 

you get to mingle with the locals, 

and experience an authentic and traditional way of celebrating Naadam. 

Naadam showcases the 3 Sports of Mongolia - wrestling, horse racing, and archery. 

After the opening ceremony on the first day, 

you will enjoy 2 days of wrestling, multiple horse races, and an archery event. 

The Naadam horse race is 10-30 km long with dozens of local contestants. 

Local foods are sold or shared by locals. 

You will notice people consume large amounts of airag (fermented mare’s milk), 

huushur (fried bread stuffed with meat),  and aaruul (dried milk curds), 

these are as important to Naadam as watching the events. 

The competitions take place about 2-4 km out of the aimag capital city. 

Taxis (private vehicles) to the fields cost about 2,000-4,000 MNT. Walking and hitchhiking is an option.

Horse races in some cases are away from the main event fields, and might require another taxi ride.

For better communication, and useful when asking directions - 

copy from the table below the Mongolian names of the Aimag (province) and capital city you are heading to. 

	Provinces	Naadam Dates	Population*			Capital
	Arkhangai (Архангай)	21-22.7	Large			Tsetserleg (Цэцэрлэг)
	Bayan-Ölgii (Баян-Өлгий)	16-17.7	Large			Ölgii (Өлгий)
	Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор)	19-20.7	Large			Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор)
	Bulgan (Булган)	21-23.7	Large			Bulgan (Булган)
	Darkhan-Uul (Дархан-Уул)	18-20.7	Large			Darkhan (Дархан)
	Dornod (Дорнод)	20-21.7	Large			Choibalsan (Чойбалсан)
	Dornogovi (Дорноговь)	20-21.7	Large			Sainshand (Сайншанд)
	Dundgovi (Дундговь)	15-16.7	Medium			Mandalgovi (Мандалговь)
	Govi-Altai (Говь-Алтай)	30-31.7	Medium			Altai (Алтай)
	Govisümber (Говьсүмбэр)	22-23.7	Small			Choir (Чойр)
	Khentii (Хэнтий)	17-19.7	Large			Öndörkhaan (Өндөрхаан)
	Khovd (Ховд)	18-19.7	Large			Khovd (Ховд)
	Khövsgöl (Хөвсгөл)	15-16.7	Large			Mörön (Мөрөн)
	Ömnögovi (Өмнөговь)	9.10.7	Large			Dalanzadgad (Даланзадгад)
	Orkhon (Орхон)	28-31.7	Large			Erdenet (Эрдэнэт)
	Övörkhangai (Өвөрхангай)	19-20.7	Large			Arvaikheer (Арвайхээр)
	Selenge (Сэлэнгэ)	15-16.7	Large			Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар)
	Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар)	22-23.7	Large			Baruun-Urt (Баруун-Урт)
	Töv (Төв)	22-23.7	Large			Zuunmod (Зуунмод)
	Uvs (Увс)	18-19.7	Large			Ulaangom (Улаангом)
	Zavkhan (Завхан)	8-9.7	Large			Uliastai (Улиастай)
	Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар)	11-12.7	Central			National Capital

* Population index (size of province by number of inhabitants)
Small:         up to 10,000  inhabitants 
Medium:     10,000 -   50,000 inhabitants 
Large:         50,000 - 100,000 inhabitants  

NATIONAL ANNIVERSARIES

The Naadam celebrations in the year of 2023 commemorate the various anniversaries of the Mongolian state through history.


Celebrating the 224th  anniversary of the Hun Empire
The establishment of the Hun state (Xiongnu, Хүн улс) by Toumen in the 3rd century BCE 
marks the beginning of statehood on the territory of Mongolia.  
His son Modu Shanyu conquered and unified various tribes. 
At the peak of its power, the Hun confederacy stretched from Lake Baikal in the north (Russia today) 
to the Great Wall of China in the south.

Genghis Khan

Celebrating the 817th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire  
The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. At the peak of its power, the Mongol empire stretched all the way to Europe.

Celebrating the 112th anniversary of National Freedom 
During the collapse of the Qing (Chinese) Dynasty  in 1911, Mongolia declared independence.  Bogd Gegeen was enthroned as Bogd Khaan (Great Khan, or Emperor) of Mongolia on 29 December 1911.


Celebrating the 102 anniversary of the People's Revolution

Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan,
revolution leaders.

Under strong Soviet influence, the Mongolian People's Republic was declared in 1921. The revolution against the Chinese began on  March 18, 1921 when 400 volunteer troops led by Sukhbaatar attacked the 2000 Chinese garrison in Kyakhta at the northern frontier of Mongolia. The Mongolian People's Party troops and Russian Red Army troops entered Urga (Ulaanbaatar of today) in July 1921.

Celebrating 33rd year of democracy
After the breakdown of Soviet communist regimes in late 1989, Mongolia began its own democratic revolution in early 1990, which led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992 and a transition to a market economy. 

Past years dates of provinces celebrations 2013, 2014, 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 (2020 2021 Covid years) 2022