Golden Eagle Festival — Royal Eagle Festival
Traditional and popular parties · Ölgii, Mongolia
The festival
In the Mongolian Altai near Ölgii, Kazakh hunters descend from the mountains with their royal eagle on their fists. The Golden Eagle Festival, organized by the Eagle Hunters Association, has been celebrating this art of falconry for more than 25 years: the eagle is called from afar and must recognize its master, melt on the fake prey with speed and precision.
Traditional embroidered costumes, harnacched horses and horse riding events complete the painting on the first weekend of October — in 2026, on October 3 and 4. A rare encounter between man, horse and bird, in the country where this hunt is transmitted as a family.
Good to know
Existence, venue and period verified: official guide of the local operator Kazakh Tour, based in Ölgii (open and read) — Golden Eagle Festival on 3–4 October 2026 near Ölgii, organized for more than 25 years by the Mongolian Eagle Hunters' Association, about 10 km east of Ölgii; the same weekend, a second eagle festival is held about 25 km south (not to be confused). Tour operators already announce October 2–3 2027, without announcement from the organization association found: not retained as "date announced", keeping in "usual period" early October, first weekend of October according to the tradition of the festival. No site of the association identified: official left empty.