President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, where he is visiting for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. The event is one of the world's largest traditional sports and cultural organizations.
The event will take place from August 31 to September 6, 2026. It will begin in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, before continuing in the Issyk-Kul region.
Erdoğan's schedule for August 31 includes the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena.
President Erdoğan arrived in Bishkek on August 31 with his wife, Emine Erdoğan, and the accompanying delegation.
About 4,000 athletes from more than 90 countries
About 4,000 athletes from more than 90 countries are expected to participate in the 6th World Nomad Games, held under the slogan “Unity in strength, unity in spirit.”
The event is being organized not only as a sporting competition but also as a major cultural gathering that introduces the cultures, traditions and ways of life of nomadic peoples from different parts of the world to an international audience.
Alongside traditional sports, cultural and scientific activities will also be held during the games.
Competition in 42 sports
- Athletes will compete in dozens of traditional disciplines as part of the World Nomad Games.
The program includes horse races, traditional wrestling, equestrian sports, archery and various combat sports practiced by nomadic peoples for centuries.
Competitions are planned in a total of 42 different sports.
Numerous cultural activities showcasing traditional handicrafts, music, culinary culture and the nomadic way of life will also be presented to visitors throughout the event.
Opening ceremony at Bishkek Arena
The official opening ceremony of the games will be held at Bishkek Arena on August 31.
The ceremony will feature a parade of athletes and delegations from different countries, as well as a large performance depicting the history, traditions and cultural heritage of nomadic civilizations.
In addition to President Erdoğan, the ceremony is expected to be attended by the heads of state and government of several countries who will be in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.
As a result, Bishkek will host both global diplomacy and one of the largest international events celebrating Turkish and nomadic culture during the same period.
Coinciding with Kyrgyzstan's Independence Day
- The date of the World Nomad Games opening also carries symbolic significance.
August 31 is also Kyrgyzstan's Independence Day.
As the country celebrates the 35th anniversary of its independence in 2026, the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games will take place on the same day as the celebrations.
For this reason, the opening ceremony in Bishkek is expected to become an event of major national importance for Kyrgyzstan, in addition to its sporting and cultural significance.
World Nomad Games return to Kyrgyzstan
The World Nomad Games were first held in 2014 at Kyrgyzstan's initiative.
The first three editions took place in Kyrgyzstan in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
The 4th World Nomad Games were held in 2022 in the Iznik district of Bursa, Türkiye.
Following Türkiye, the event moved to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, in 2024.
With the sixth edition in 2026, the World Nomad Games will return to Kyrgyzstan, the country where they originated.
Games to continue in Issyk-Kul
Following the grand opening in Bishkek, the main part of the event will move to the Issyk-Kul region.
A significant part of the sports, cultural and scientific programs will be held around Issyk-Kul.
Cholpon-Ata and the Kyrchyn Gorge will also be among the event's key locations.
The closing ceremony of the games will take place on September 6 on the shores of Issyk-Kul.
Snow leopard becomes symbol of the games
- The snow leopard, identified with Central Asia, was chosen as the symbol of the World Nomad Games.
The official mascot of the event is a snow leopard named “Batay.”
During the event, the Kyrgyz government aims to introduce the country's natural beauty, nomadic culture, traditional way of life and historical heritage to the international community.
Erdoğan holds intensive diplomatic agenda in Bishkek
The World Nomad Games form the cultural component of President Erdoğan's visit to Kyrgyzstan, while the visit's diplomatic agenda is also extensive.
Erdoğan will attend and deliver a speech at the extended session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State on September 1.
President Erdoğan is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of different countries during his stay in Bishkek.
One of the most notable of these contacts will be a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Thus, on August 31 and September 1, Bishkek will host intensive diplomacy under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while also becoming one of the international meeting points for Turkish and Central Asian culture through the World Nomad Games.
Official World Nomad Games page:
6th World Nomad Games – Official website
