The VI World Nomad Games opened in Kyrgyzstan on 31 August 2026, returning to the country where the Games were first held in 2014.
The opening ceremony took place in Bishkek, with the main competitions continuing in the Issyk-Kul Region. For traditional archery, much of the action takes place in Kyrchyn Gorge.
The ground archery programme shows just how different traditional competition can be. Under the Kyrgyz rule, men and women shoot at a goat-shaped target from 40 metres. The Turkish rule increases the distance to 70 metres for men and 60 metres for women. The Korean rule takes it much further: both men and women shoot from 145 metres.
A total of 196 archers from 51 countries took part in the traditional ground archery programme. Horseback archery is also part of the Games, bringing another distinct form of traditional shooting to Kyrchyn Gorge.
Three rules, distances from 40 to 145 metres, and archers from more than 50 countries — this is exactly the kind of event Sacred Stag wants to follow.
Sacred Stag will continue to cover the traditional archery competitions and results from Kyrgyzstan.