256 Title-Holders, One Field: Mongolian Wrestling Beyond Naadam
Mongolian wrestling does not stop when Naadam ends. On 24 October 2026, 256 wrestlers holding national and aimag titles meet in Ulaanbaatar for the "Bayan Zurkh Mountain's Blessing" tournament, and the World Wrestling Championships open in Astana the same day. For travellers, autumn is a good moment to understand bökh, the sport that also gave Japanese sumo six Mongolian-born yokozuna.
Key facts
What: 'Bayan Zurkh Mountain's Blessing' wrestling tournament, 256 national and aimag title-holders
When / where: 24 October 2026, Ulaanbaatar (Montsame weekly listing)
Also: World Wrestling Championships, Astana, from 24 October 2026
How to win: Opponent's upper body, knee or elbow touches the ground; no ring
Heritage: Naadam (wrestling, horse racing, archery) on UNESCO's ICH list since 2010
Sumo link: Six Mongolian-born yokozuna; Hōshōryū became the 74th in January 2025
Visa-free stays: Singapore, Malaysia, Japan 30 days; Hong Kong SAR 14 days (MFA, checked 20 Oct 2026)
Source: Montsame, UNESCO, Oxford Business Group, Guinness World Records, Nippon.com, Taipei Times, Mongolia MFA
Why is Mongolian wrestling in the news this week?
Because the calendar is full of it. Montsame's "This Week in Mongolia" for 19–25 October 2026 lists the "Bayan Zurkh Mountain's Blessing" tournament in Ulaanbaatar on 24 October, with 256 wrestlers who hold national and aimag titles.
The same listing has the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in freestyle and Greco-Roman starting in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 24 October, and the Asian Para Games in Japan from 18 to 24 October.
What is Mongolian wrestling?
Mongolian wrestling, or bökh, is one of the three "manly games" of Naadam, alongside horse racing and archery. UNESCO inscribed Naadam in 2010 on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and describes the festival as held every year from 11 to 13 July.
The rules are simple. A bout is won by the wrestler who "forces any part of his or her opponent's upper torso, knee or elbow to the ground", according to a profile of the sport by Oxford Business Group. Grabbing the legs is allowed; grabbing the throat, striking and locks are forbidden.
There is no ring, and dozens of bouts run at once on the same field.
What do the costume, dance and titles mean?
Every part of a match is ritual. Wrestlers wear a brightly coloured short-sleeved jacket (the jodag or zodog), leather boots and tight briefs called shuudag, Oxford Business Group notes.
They enter and leave the field with a dance that has roots in shamanism and is meant to attract the spirits of animals; visitors usually know it as the eagle dance. Each wrestler has a zasuul, a friend and mentor who helps manage the fight and may sing his praises before a bout.
Titles rise with the level of the festival. A soum (district) Naadam winner is called "elephant" and the runner-up "falcon"; an aimag champion becomes a "lion"; national titles include "garuda" and, at the top, the ranks of "giant", the highest of which is kept for wrestlers who have won the national Naadam more than five times, according to Oxford Business Group. That is why a field of 256 title holders, as on 24 October, is a serious event.
How big can a Mongolian wrestling tournament get?
Very big. The record for the largest Mongolian wrestling tournament, set in Ulaanbaatar from 17 to 25 September 2011, involved 6,002 participants and was organised by the Mongolian National Wrestling Federation, according to Guinness World Records. A national Naadam in an important anniversary year can field 1,024 wrestlers, Oxford Business Group notes.
The sport also has a winter season. The traditional Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar) wrestling competition is so fixed in the calendar that its suspension in January 2020, over coronavirus risks, was reported as the first time in generations it had not taken place, AKIpress wrote on 31 January 2020. The 2027 Tsagaan Sar date has not been officially published yet.
Planning from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Japan?
Japanese readers already know Mongolian wrestlers from the sumo ring. Asashōryū, Hakuhō, Harumafuji, Kakuryū and Terunofuji all reached yokozuna, and Hakuhō holds the record of 45 top-division championships, Nippon.com reports. In January 2025 Hōshōryū, Asashōryū's nephew, became sumo's 74th yokozuna, the Taipei Times reported.
Short trips are easy from all four places. The Consular Department of Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists visa-free stays of up to 30 days for citizens of Singapore, Malaysia and Japan, and up to 14 days for Hong Kong SAR passport holders (checked 20 October 2026). Our guides for Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong cover flights and entry.
What this means for your trip
Plan Naadam early. The best place to see bökh is Naadam in July. Our Naadam Festival page covers the opening ceremony and the Central Stadium; we will confirm 2027 dates as soon as they are official.
Ask about local tournaments. Autumn and winter tournaments are announced at short notice. Tell us your dates and we will check the calendar.
Watch the ritual, not just the throws. The entrance dance and the zasuul's praise song are as much a part of bökh as the bout itself.
Read more. Our guide to Mongolian wrestling (bökh) explains the history and techniques.
How Enza Tours can help
We can add a wrestling tournament to an Ulaanbaatar stay when one is on, or build a summer trip around Naadam and a countryside family visit in Terelj. Send us your dates and we will tell you what is on.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next big Mongolian wrestling tournament?
The "Bayan Zurkh Mountain's Blessing" tournament takes place in Ulaanbaatar on 24 October 2026, with 256 wrestlers holding national and aimag titles, according to Montsame. The biggest event of the year is the national Naadam in July.
How do you win a Mongolian wrestling match?
In Mongolian wrestling (bökh), you win by making your opponent's upper body, knee or elbow touch the ground. Leg grabs are allowed; striking, throat grabs and locks are forbidden.
What are Mongolian wrestling titles?
Mongolian wrestlers earn titles by level: "falcon" and "elephant" at district Naadams, "lion" at aimag level, and "garuda" and the "giant" ranks nationally. The highest giant rank is for wrestlers who have won the national Naadam more than five times.
How many Mongolian sumo wrestlers became yokozuna?
Six Mongolian-born wrestlers have reached sumo's top rank of yokozuna: Asashōryū, Hakuhō, Harumafuji, Kakuryū, Terunofuji and, in January 2025, Hōshōryū, the 74th yokozuna.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia from Japan or Singapore?
No visa is needed for short visits. Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists up to 30 days visa-free for citizens of Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, and up to 14 days for Hong Kong SAR passport holders (checked 20 October 2026).
Tours that fit this story
Hand-picked from our current programmes. See all of them on our Naadam Festival page.
Naadam Festival Tour (2 days): Sukhbaatar Square, the Central Stadium and the Khui Doloon Khudag horse race.
2 Days Terelj National Park Tour: A night with a nomadic family in Terelj.
Ulaanbaatar City Tour (1 day): Gandan Monastery, the central square and Zaisan Hill.
Sources
About this article
Written by the Enza Tours News Desk in Ulaanbaatar and checked by our team before publishing. Every date, number and rule in this post comes from the sources listed above, which we read on 20 October 2026. Last updated: 20 October 2026.
About Enza Tours LLC. We are a Mongolian inbound tour operator, founded in 2018 by Enkhzaya (Enza), and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) and the Mongolian Tourism Association (MTA). Office: Room 39, Building 33, 4th Khoroo, Baga Toiruu Street, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia. Phone +976 8911 2100 · info@mongoliantour.guide · Meet our team · Contact us
