Event & Festivals Guide
You can enjoy shows with traces of Mongolian culture, and even experience internationally acclaimed opera and ballet acts, and live performances of pop-rock bands.
Quick facts
- Tsagaan Sar first recorded
- 1206
- Golden Eagle Festival location
- near Ulaanbaatar
- Sky Resort Season Opening month
- March
- Dog sledding trip distance
- 50–100 km optional overnight trips
- Ice wall distance from city
- about 50 km north
- Play Time festival location
- Gachuurt village, 30 km from Ulaanbaatar
- Mongolian National Costume Festival date
- 10 July
- Mongolian National Costume Festival first held
- 2007
- Naadam Festival dates
- 11 July – 16 July
- Danshig Naadam timing
- first week of August
Explained
Ulaanbaatar's Cultural Calendar
Ulaanbaatar strives to welcome its visitors throughout the year with special and unforgettable experiences that can both inspire and educate. The city hosts performances rooted in Mongolian culture as well as internationally acclaimed opera, ballet and pop-rock concerts.
Tsagaan Sar — Mongolian Lunar New Year
The biggest festival of the year, celebrated since 1206 on the first three days of the first lunar month. Families gather to watch the first sunrise, make wishes, and share a feast of buuz dumplings, mutton stew and appetizers; guests receive gifts.
Golden Eagle Festival
A traditional Kazakh festival near the capital where men in traditional dress demonstrate eagle hunting and organize a money-bag-grabbing game. Visitors can be photographed with a hunting eagle. The same month also features Nauryz, the Kazakh Sun Festival.
Sky Resort Season Opening
Held in March at Sky Resort, this annual winter-sports competition for professionals and amateurs includes mountain sled slalom, snowboarding, ski sprints and biathlon.
Winter Fun Ulaanbaatar
Winter activities include skiing, hiking among trees, dog sledding along the frozen Tuul River to Gorkhi Terelj National Park (with optional overnight trips of 50–100 km), ice sports at an ice wall about 50 km north of the city, city ice rinks such as Hunnu Mall, and the February Ice Festival with traditional Mongolian games like ice ankle-bone shooting.
Play Time Music Festival
Each summer in Gachuurt village, 30 km from the city, this anticipated live-music event features indie rock, instrumental, metal, electronic and house music across several stages, plus the Replay art market.
Mongolian National Costume Festival
Held on Sukhbaatar Square on 10 July since 2007, this parade promotes Mongolia's tangible and intangible heritage through ethnic costumes, possessions and folk arts. Over ten thousand visitors attend annually.
Naadam Festival
Celebrated from 11 to 16 July at the National Sports Stadium, Naadam is Mongolia's traditional sports festival featuring the Three Manly Games — wrestling, horse racing and archery — and commemorates national independence.
Danshig Naadam
Held during the first week of August, Danshig Naadam Khuree Tsam is the nation's largest religious and cultural festival, showcasing Buddhist rituals, monk competitions and spiritual debates.
Key takeaways
- Ulaanbaatar hosts year-round festivals rooted in Mongolian culture and international performing arts.
- Tsagaan Sar is the biggest family festival, celebrated on the first three days of the first lunar month.
- The Golden Eagle Festival showcases Kazakh eagle hunting near the capital.
- Sky Resort's March opening features winter sports competitions for professionals and amateurs.
- Winter Fun Ulaanbaatar offers dog sledding, ice sports and the February Ice Festival.
- Play Time is Mongolia's major summer music festival in Gachuurt village, 30 km from the city.
- The Mongolian National Costume Festival takes place on Sukhbaatar Square every 10 July.
- Naadam Festival runs from 11 to 16 July with wrestling, horse racing and archery.
- Danshig Naadam is held in the first week of August and highlights Buddhist rituals.