The Golden Eagle Festival is one of the most remarkable cultural events in the world. Every autumn in Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia’s westernmost province, Kazakh eagle hunters gather in traditional dress to show the extraordinary partnership between hunter, horse and golden eagle. For many travellers it is the highlight of a trip to Mongolia — and for us, it is home.
This guide covers the festival dates, the difference between the main festival and the smaller village festivals, what you will see, and how to meet eagle-hunter families beyond the festival grounds.
Golden Eagle Festival dates
2027: expected dates (not yet confirmed)
Not yet confirmed. The 2027 dates below are the expected dates based on the usual festival calendar. They have not yet been officially confirmed by the festival organisers, and we will update this page as soon as they are announced. Please check with us before booking flights.
| Festival | Location | Expected dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Eagle Festival (main festival) | Shar Nuur, near Ölgii | 2–3 October 2027 | Expected — awaiting confirmation |
| Sagsai Eagle Festival | Sagsai, Bayan-Ölgii | 17–18 September 2027 | Expected — awaiting confirmation |
Typical timing
- Main Golden Eagle Festival: usually the first weekend of October, near Ölgii.
- Sagsai Eagle Festival: usually mid-September.
- Other village festivals: several smaller festivals take place in different districts of Bayan-Ölgii through September.
Festival dates are set by local organisers each year and can change, so always confirm them before booking flights.
Past dates: the 2025 festival calendar
For reference, these were the eagle festival dates in Bayan-Ölgii in 2025:
| Festival location | 2025 dates |
|---|---|
| Altai district | 13–14 September 2025 |
| Sagsai district | 17–18 September 2025 |
| Tolbo district | 20–21 September 2025 |
| Altantsogts district | 27–28 September 2025 |
| Main Golden Eagle Festival, Shar Nuur near Ölgii | 4–5 October 2025 |
| Ulaankhus district | Second week of November 2025 |
Nauryz and the spring eagle festival
In spring, the Kazakh community celebrates Nauryz, the spring new year. Our Nauryz trip runs on 21–25 March, with the Nauryz parade on 22 March and a local eagle festival on 23 March. Ask us about the Nauryz trip.
The main festival and the village festivals
The main Golden Eagle Festival near Ölgii is the largest gathering, bringing together many eagle hunters from across the province. It has the biggest programme of competitions and cultural events, and it also draws the most visitors.
The village festivals, such as the one in Sagsai in September, are smaller and more intimate. They give you a closer look at the eagle hunters and their families, with fewer crowds. Many of our guests combine a village festival with time staying with an eagle-hunter family.
What happens at the festival
Eagle competitions. The heart of the festival is watching golden eagles respond to their hunters’ calls. Hunters are judged on how quickly and accurately their eagles answer the call and catch a lure, and on their overall skill and technique.
Parade and traditional dress. The hunters ride in wearing traditional Kazakh dress, with their eagles on their arms — one of the most photographed moments of the festival.
Horseback games. Traditional Kazakh horse games include kokpar, a rough-and-tumble contest in which riders wrestle for a goat carcass on horseback, as well as games such as kyz kuu and tenge ilu.
Music, crafts and food. Expect Kazakh music and performances, and stalls selling handmade felt, embroidery and jewellery. Try traditional dishes such as beshbarmak (boiled meat with noodles) and kazy (horse-meat sausage).
The Kazakh eagle-hunting tradition
Hunting with golden eagles has been passed from generation to generation among the Kazakh people, and in Bayan-Ölgii it is still part of everyday life for some families. Falconry, which includes hunting with eagles, is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with Mongolia among the countries that nominated it.
Why hunters use female eagles
Female golden eagles are larger, heavier and more aggressive than males, so they are almost always the ones used for hunting.
How an eagle is trained
Some eagles are taken from the nest when young; others are caught as mature birds using carefully set nets. Training takes great patience. The hunter gradually builds trust with the bird — feeding it by hand — until it is used to the hunter, his horse and his dog. The eagle then learns to chase a shyrga, a lure made from a fox or hare skin dragged along the ground, before real hunting begins.
Hunters use a hood to keep the eagle calm, a leash, and a baldak — a wooden rest that supports the hunter’s arm when riding with the heavy bird.
The hunting season
The hunting season runs through the cold months, from about October to March, when animal furs are thickest. Eagles hunt foxes, hares and game birds. In the warmer months the eagles rest and moult, growing new feathers for the next season.
Names for eagles
Kazakh hunters name their eagles by age — for example, a first-year bird is a balapan. The names continue year by year: balapan (1), kantubit (2), tyrnek (3), tastulek (4), muzbalak (5), koktubit (6), kana (7), zhana (8), maytubit (9), barkyn (10), barshyn (11) and shogel (12).
Getting there and where to stay
The festivals take place in Bayan-Ölgii, in Mongolia’s far west. Most visitors fly from Ulaanbaatar to Ölgii on a domestic flight. Flights fill up quickly around festival dates, so book early. You can also travel overland, but the road journey is more than 1,500 km and takes several days.
In Ölgii there are small hotels and guesthouses, and some visitors stay in ger camps near the festival grounds. Book accommodation well in advance for the festival period. With us, you can also stay with an eagle-hunter family before or after the festival.
What to pack for the festival
- Warm layers, including thermal underwear and a fleece or down jacket
- A windproof outer jacket — the festival grounds are open and exposed
- Sturdy, warm boots, a hat and gloves
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Spare camera batteries, which drain quickly in the cold
See our FAQ for a full packing list.
Beyond the festival: meeting eagle-hunter families
The festival is spectacular, but the best way to understand eagle hunting is to spend time with a family at home. Read Meeting the Eagle Hunters of the Altai, stay with families on our Nomad Homestay tour, or join the Eagle Hunters’ Migration Photography Expedition (February–April) to see the tradition outside festival season.
Festival tours with Sayat Travel
We are a local team from Bayan-Ölgii, and the eagle hunters we visit are our neighbours and friends. Our Golden Eagle Festival Experience combines the festival with a family homestay away from the crowds. You can also combine the festival with trekking on the Altai Traverse. Find out more about Bayan-Ölgii and Western Mongolia, or see the best time to visit Mongolia.
Frequently asked questions
Are the 2027 festival dates confirmed?
Not yet. The dates above are expected based on the usual calendar. Festival organisers confirm the dates each year, and we will update this page when they do.
Should I go to the main festival or a village festival?
The main festival has the biggest programme and the most hunters; the village festivals are smaller, quieter and more personal. If you have time, combining one of each with a homestay gives you the fullest picture.
Can I see eagle hunters outside festival time?
Yes. Eagle-hunting families live in Bayan-Ölgii all year, and we visit them on our homestay and photography tours.
Contact us to plan your festival trip, or book your tour.
