Golden Eagle Festival

The Golden Eagle Festival is an annual celebration of Kazakh eagle hunting heritage, held in Bayan-Ölgii Province, Mongolia. Each autumn, eagle hunters compete in events showcasing their eagles, traditional dress, and horsemanship, drawing participants and visitors to the steppe near Ölgii.

• Held annually near Ölgii in Mongolia’s Bayan-Ölgii Province
• Features competitions for eagle hunting, horsemanship, and traditional dress
• Bushkashi, a horseback tug-of-war, is a popular event
• Hunters compete for best eagle and best presentation
• A related festival is held in Sagsai district each September

What it is

The Golden Eagle Festival is a vibrant gathering of Kazakh eagle hunters, known as bürkitshi, who come together each year in Mongolia’s Bayan-Ölgii Province. The festival is a showcase of the centuries-old tradition of hunting with golden eagles, a practice deeply woven into Kazakh identity and nomadic life. Hunters and their birds compete in events that test the bond between human and eagle, as well as the skill and artistry of both. For the local Kazakh community, the festival is a proud affirmation of cultural heritage and a chance to pass on knowledge to younger generations.

Where it comes from

While eagle hunting has ancient roots among the Kazakhs of Central Asia, the Golden Eagle Festival itself is a modern celebration organized by the Mongolian Eagle Hunter's Association. Its aim is to preserve and promote the unique tradition of eagle falconry, especially as modern life and tourism bring change to the region. The festival gained international attention after being featured in the 2016 documentary 'The Eagle Huntress,' which followed a young girl’s journey to compete. The event has since become a focal point for discussion about authenticity, cultural preservation, and the effects of tourism on traditional practices.

How it is celebrated

During the festival, eagle hunters and their birds compete in a series of challenges on the open steppe outside Ölgii. Events include testing the eagle’s ability to hunt prey, respond to its handler’s call, and demonstrate agility. Hunters wear traditional Kazakh attire, and their horses are adorned for the occasion. Prizes are awarded for the best performances in hunting, eagle handling, and presentation. Alongside the eagle competitions, visitors can watch horse racing, archery, and bushkashi—a spirited horseback tug-of-war using a goatskin. The festival is as much a social gathering as a competition, with music, food, and storytelling bringing together families, elders, and young people.

Joining in

The main celebrations take place about 4 kilometers outside the town of Ölgii, on the sweeping Mongolian steppe. Visitors are welcomed to watch the competitions, photograph the hunters and their eagles, and experience Kazakh hospitality. Expect a lively atmosphere, with crowds gathering around the main events and plenty of opportunities to learn about the culture. While the festival draws international attention, it remains rooted in the local community, offering a rare glimpse into the living traditions of Mongolia’s Kazakh minority.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Golden Eagle Festival, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Golden Eagle Festival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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