Naadam, also known as the three games of men, or eriin gurvan naadam locally, is a public holiday in Mongolia, and it is observed on July 11 to 13 each year.
Naadam is a traditional festival in Mongolia, and three games, Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery, are held in midsummer across the country. Naadam is believed to have existed for centuries, with its origin in military activities serving as a way to train soldiers for battles.
Mongolian wrestling is the most popular national sport, and people can attain ranks only during the Naadam festival. The rank is determined by the number of rounds won by each wrestler and is held for life. The lowest rank is the Falcon of Sum, while the highest rank is the Champion.
Horse racing in Naadam is a cross-country event with races 15 to 30 kilometers, and the age class determines the distance. The top five horses in each class earn the titles, but only the top three are given medals.
Both men and women may participate in the archery competition, where men shoot arrows from 75 meters away and women shoot theirs from 65 meters away. The competition is played by ten teams, with each archer having 4 arrows. The competition winners gain the titles of national marksman and national markswoman.
The following is the list of Naadam in Mongolia from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Naadam | Jul 11, 2022 | Monday |
| Naadam | Jul 11, 2023 | Tuesday |
| Naadam | Jul 11, 2024 | Thursday |
| Naadam | Jul 11, 2025 | Friday |
| Naadam | Jul 11, 2026 | Saturday |
Please check more public holidays in Mongolia:
