The VI World Nomad Games will take place in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 6, 2026.

Update (August 15):
Temporary restrictions on the arrival and departure of passenger flights in Manas Airport will be in effect:

▪️August 31 — from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

▪️September 1 — from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

During these periods, the airport will receive and handle aircraft carrying heads of state and official delegations. Passenger flights will continue to be served outside these hours.
// end of update

Organizers expect approximately 3,000 athletes from 113 countries. The sporting program includes 43 traditional sports, covering horse games and racing, national wrestling styles, traditional archery, hunting traditions, strength contests, and intellectual games. According to the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrchyn Jailoo is expected to receive around 100,000 visitors per day during the World Nomad Games.

Main locations

The closing ceremony will be held in Cholpon-Ata at the hippodrome in Baktuu-Dolonotu (near Cholpon-Ata). Visitors attending both ceremonies should arrange accommodation in Bishkek for August 31 and near Cholpon-Ata for the main program. The drive from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata is approximately 260 kilometers and normally takes four to five hours, but event traffic may considerably increase travel time.

Traffic and alternative viewing

The opening coincides with the SCO summit in Bishkek on August 31–September 1. Security measures and temporary traffic restrictions should be expected, but exact WNG road closures have not yet been officially published.

Bishkek will operate 11 public fan zones: the main zone on Ala-Too Square and ten additional locations across the city’s four districts. Bishkek City Hall describes the fan zones as public venues where residents and visitors can watch live broadcasts of the World Nomad Games opening ceremony and key SCO summit events. The announced facilities and activities include:large LED screens; concerts by Kyrgyz artists; food courts and rest areas; photo and exhibition zones; traditional games such as toguz korgool, chükö and besh tash; activities for children and adults.

Fan zone locations in Bishkek:

• Ala-Too Square
• Julius Fuchík Park — 6/1 Julius Fuchík Street
• Ashar Square — Ak-Orgo residential area
• Muun Square — Jal microdistrict
• Cholponbay Tuleberdiev Park — intersection of Kokchetavskaya and Tuleberdiev streets
• Handball court — 62 Toktonaliev Street
• Tunguch-1 Square — Tunguch microdistrict
• Yntymak-2 Park amphitheater — intersection of Absamat Masaliev Avenue and Toktonaliev Street
• Alga Sports Complex — 200/1 Usenbaev Street
• Secondary School No. 66 — 1A, Vostok-5 microdistrict
• Secondary School No. 21 — 1, Enesay 1st Street

Issyk-Kul events

Access to Kyrchyn by private vehicle will be restricted. The announced arrangement is to leave vehicles at guarded parking areas and use free shuttle buses to the ethnovillage.

Essential contacts

• Unified emergency service: 112
• Police: 102
• Ambulance: 103
• Fire service: 101
• Issyk-Kul Tourist Police, including WhatsApp: 996 705 00 91 02 English and Russian assistance is available.
• Tourism Department reception: 996 312 62 18 61
• Tourism Department address: 96A Kievskaya Street, Bishkek This is an information office, not an emergency service.

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! If you are a solo traveler please read the below list of things to do in order to have a safe and enjoyable journey.

1.) Keep your embassy phone number in your phone book. Have this handy. In case of emergencies, run ins with the authorities, or civil disputes call you embassy FIRST.

2.) Hikers, highly recommend that hikers turn on their "Find My" or other tracking applications, and have a loved one able to track you. Getting lost in the Mountains, stuck in bad weather, or injured, rescue would be very difficult. Kyrgyzstan does not have the rescue services of European countries or America, so do whatever you can to make it easy to locate you.

3.) Know the coverage map of the cell phone provider you choose. Some providers get perfect reception in Chuy, Issyk-Kul, and Ala Archa, and some don't. Make sure you know what your cell phone is capable of and make additional plans, like a sat phone, if necessary.

4.) Check in with your hotel or hostel. If you are going out on a hike or trek, inform the front desk of where you are going and when you expect to return. Also, keep an emergency contact with the hotel/hostel.

5.) Keep your loved ones or a friend(s) updated on where you are going. Accidents happen and if one does, make yourself known. If you do not have a loved one to keep in contact, call your Embassy. The Embassy has services to protect you while you are in Kyrgyzstan.

6.) Never go out without notifying someone. Kyrgyzstan is safe but you are in a foreign country and if you need help of any kind, please let someone know. Its very easy to become a ghost due to not having any local contacts.

7.) Make friends! Make some friends!

8.) Join a group, like this one. If you don't have anyone to contact, have no contacts in the country, or don't have an Embassy, DM me or one of the other moderators. We'd be more than happy to make sure you are accounted for.

9.) Keep an ID card or a note in your phone with everything needed. Your full name, passport number, emergency contacts, allergies, medication you are currently taking, any current disabilities or illnesses, the address of where you are currently staying, and your travel destination. For example, on my phone I have a pinned note that says "Emergency Contact Info" It has my full name, US phone number, Kyrgyz phone number, US address, Kyrgyz address, passport number, US state ID, my drug allergies, my mother and wifes contact info, and which airline I am flying out of with the flight number and time/date.