The 'Kymyzmunyrdyk – 2026' festival, which awakened the national spirit and filled the vast steppe with celebration, has concluded in the Almaty region, reports Todayinfo. This year, about 35,000 guests from all over the country and abroad attended the event.
During the festival, the sight of a thousand horses galloping across the steppe captivated the audience. Nearly two hundred riders competed in the horse races. The prize fund was substantial: the winner of the alaman-baiga received a Jetour X70 FL Prestige car, second place won 2.5 million tenge, and third place 1 million tenge.
The 'Tuye palwan' competition also became a highlight for fans. The 'Koshkar koteru' contest drew much interest. Traditionally, the athlete who lifted the ram the most times took it home as a prize.
In the 'Giants' contest,' participants performed acrobatic feats such as javelin throwing, bending iron rods, carrying heavy stones, exercising with a 100-kg log, and pulling a 500-kg cart. The winner received a grand prize of 1.5 million tenge.
In addition to the main competitions, the festival featured arm wrestling, tug-of-war, toguzkumalak, chess, sheep shearing, and other traditional nomadic games. The event, held at the Karkara mountain pasture, will be remembered as an important cultural occasion that promoted national sports and the spiritual values of the Kazakh people.
