Events and Public Holidays
Mongolia’s calendar is shorter and sharper than most. A handful of dates dominate the year, and two of them are worth planning an entire journey around.
The dates that matter
Event | When | Why it matters to a visitor |
|---|---|---|
Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) | January or February, date varies | The most important family festival of the year. Deeply domestic rather than public. |
Naadam | Mid-July, dates confirmed annually | Wrestling, archery and horse racing. The single biggest cultural event in the country. |
Golden Eagle Festival | Early October, western Mongolia | Kazakh eagle hunters competing. A long journey west, and worth it. |
Independence Day | 26 November | National holiday; offices and some services close. |
Republic Day | 26 November | Marked alongside Independence Day. |