Festivals
The festivals and national holidays worth planning a trip around, month by month, from Navruz to the eagle hunters of Issyk-Kul.
The biggest celebration in Central Asia is Navruz on 21 March. Spring brings crafts and folklore festivals in Uzbekistan (Khiva’s Lazgi dance festival, Bukhara’s Silk and Spices, Boysun), August the eagle hunters’ festival on Issyk-Kul, and each country has its own independence day. Ramadan and the two Eids move every year.
16 events
Mar
21 March
The Persian new year and the biggest celebration of the year in all five countries. Public holidays (several days in Kazakhstan, usually 21–23 March), sumalak cooked overnight, music, games and family gatherings in every town.
Apr
Last Sunday of April
A national holiday in honour of the Akhal-Teke horse, with races at the Ashgabat hippodrome and horse beauty contests.
Apr
Late April, every two years (2022, 2024, 2026) · Next: 2028 (expected)
Our home town’s festival. Dancers and ensembles from dozens of countries perform Lazgi, the Khorezm dance on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage, inside Ichan-Kala. The 2026 edition opened on 27 April.
May
Early May, every two years (most recently 1–7 May 2026)
An international folklore festival in the mountain district of Boysun, Surkhandarya, whose culture is on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage. Folk singers, dancers, craftsmen, wrestling and horse games.
May
Last Sunday of May
A national holiday for the Turkmen carpet, with exhibitions and carpet-weaving demonstrations, mostly in Ashgabat.
May
Late May or early June (2025 edition 6–8 June)
Bukhara’s crafts festival, held for more than twenty years. Hundreds of artisans from Uzbekistan and abroad, a parade through the old town, music, food and spice stalls around the trading domes.
Aug
Early August (2025 edition 2 August)
Golden eagles, falcons, taigan hounds and mounted archery in Bokonbaevo, on the south shore of Issyk-Kul. The traditional hunting skills of the Kyrgyz nomads, shown by the families who keep them alive.
Aug
Second Sunday of August
A harvest holiday for the famous Turkmen melons, with fairs and tastings of hundreds of varieties.
Aug
Late August, in some years (2024 edition 26–30 August)
An international festival of traditional music held in Samarkand since 1997, with concerts in front of the city’s monuments. It is not held every year; dates are announced late.
Aug
31 August
National holiday, with concerts and events in Bishkek.
Sep
1 September
National holiday, with concerts and fireworks in Tashkent and regional capitals.
Sep
9 September
National holiday, with events in Dushanbe.
Sep
27 September
National holiday, with parades and concerts in Ashgabat.
Dec
16 December
National holiday, celebrated over two days.
Moves about eleven days earlier each year · Next: 2027: Ramadan from about 8 February, Eid around 10 March
The month of fasting ends with Eid, a public holiday in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Sights stay open and restaurants for visitors serve as usual; some local cafés change their hours.
About seventy days after Eid al-Fitr · Next: 2027: around 16–17 May
The feast of sacrifice, a public holiday in all five countries. Families visit each other; expect busy roads and some closed shops on the first day.
No events listed for this country yet.
Festival dates are set by the organisers, often only a few weeks ahead, and some festivals are not held every year. We list the dates we can confirm and check them again before every season (last checked 2026-10-13). Ask us before you book flights around an event.
Tell us which festival you’d like to see. We’ll confirm the dates and build the route around them.
Darvaza Trip · Koshona street 75/1, Khiva, Uzbekistan · WhatsApp +998 91 920 94 20 · tours.uzbekistan@gmail.com · darvazatrip.com/festivals/