The Bashkir ethno-pop group Ay Yola was named an ambassador of the 6th World Nomad Games and will represent Bashkortostan’s culture — a republic within the Russian Federation — at the event.
Ay Yola made the announcement on Instagram. In their message, the musicians said they view tradition as a way to move forward. The group is also expected to perform at the opening ceremony.
The 6th World Nomad Games will take place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, 2026, with the opening ceremony coinciding with the host country Kyrgyzstan’s Independence Day celebrations. The first Games were held in 2014, also in Kyrgyzstan, in the town of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake.
At that time, participants from 19 countries competed in ethnic and traditional sports. The most recent World Nomad Games took place in Astana and brought together more than 2,000 athletes from 89 countries.
In 2025, Ay Yola emerged as a sensation for listeners worldwide, capturing particular attention in Turkic-speaking countries, including Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Their song with ethnic motifs, «Homay,» quickly went popular on social media and music charts. Last June, the group released a music video for another track, «Yola,» featuring striking views of the Mangystau region.
