Recent Posts

The Kalmyk Heritage Center in the United States organized a youth basketball tournament in partnership with Brooklyn USA Basketball from August 30 to September 1, 2026. The event brought young athletes together for sports, teamwork, and community spirit among the Kalmyk-American diaspora.

The center describes itself as a nonprofit focused on preserving Oirat-Mongol language, traditions, and identity for the only indigenous Buddhist people of Europe now living in America.

On August 24 2026 monks at the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni (Burkhan Bakshin Altan Sume), the Central Khurul of Kalmykia in Elista, held the traditional prayer dedicated to Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. The rite is meant to remove obstacles to study and sharpen the mind before the new academic year.

Residents of Elista and visitors from districts across the republic attended. An additional service is scheduled for August 30 at 9:00 a.m. The temple is Europe's largest Buddhist temple and the main public face of Kalmyk Gelug practice.

The Kalmyk folk choir "Sarin Sarul" from the settlement of Komsomolsky, led by Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Kalmykia Valentina Erdnieva, took part in the XV "Russian Field" festival held on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow. The event, dedicated to the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia, featured creative groups from across the country and highlighted multinational culture.

The choir performed at several venues and received a warm reception from audiences, showcasing high performance standards and Kalmyk cultural potential. During the festival, Permanent Representative of Kalmykia Gerenala Muchkinova also presented awards for assistance related to the special military operation to community members active in supporting Kalmyks in Moscow.[1]

Kalmyk Greco-Roman wrestler Mingiyan Goryaev has become the winner of the world championship among athletes under the age of 20 in Bratislava, Slovakia. In the final of the up to 72 kg weight category, he defeated Turkey's Salih Yatsici to claim the gold medal. The path to victory involved several intense bouts in which he demonstrated high skill and determination.

Goryaev, born in Elista, began wrestling at age 6 and is a product of the Republican Sports School of Olympic Reserve for Wrestling named after T.L. Baldashinov. Shortly before the triumph he received the title of Master of Sports of Russia of International Class. He previously won the U-20 European Championship. Russian wrestlers compete under the Russian flag and anthem by decision of United World Wrestling.

The achievement was widely reported in Kalmyk and Russian media around 18-19 August 2026 as a source of pride for the republic.

From 17 to 28 August 2026 the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, together with an international forum of mayors. Russia and Kalmykia are represented by a delegation from Elista led by Head of the City of Elista - Chairman of the Elista City Assembly Maxim Sorokin.

Sorokin is scheduled to deliver a report on methods of combating desertification and to hold a series of meetings with Mongolian municipal representatives. A meeting has already taken place with the deputy mayor of Ordos (Inner Mongolia, China), at which the parties discussed shared problems of land desertification and agreed on cooperation in ecology and other urban issues. Further talks are planned with the mayor of Ulaanbaatar and other officials.

Poets from Kalmykia representing the Kalmykia branch of the World Association of Mongolic-Speaking Poets participated in the V International Poetry Festival in Mongolia, dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj, founder of modern Mongolian literature. The delegation included Erdni Kankayev (head of the branch and director of the Kalmyk Republican Branch of the Russian Writers' Union), poetesses Osorin Ut nasun and Elena Olzeeva, and Tatiana Badakova.

They competed in the international poetry contest "Motherland." Erdni Kankayev presented a poem about the immortal feat of the 110th Separate Kalmyk Cavalry Division during the Great Patriotic War and its modern horse marches. His work was selected among the best. The Kalmyk group received a special diploma for preserving and developing national poetic traditions and an invitation to the next festival in China. Performances focused on homeland, holidays, traditions and historical memory and were well received. Head of Kalmykia Batu Khasikov sent a welcoming address emphasizing spiritual unity among Mongolic peoples.

Several events related to Kalmyk culture, Buddhism, sports, and diaspora heritage are scheduled in the near term. Note that exact details can change, and some information draws from announcements published in late July or early August 2026.

The "Song - the Soul of the People" project continues through August 14 with concerts and master classes across Kalmykia settlements, paired with exhibitions on Russian peoples' holidays.

On August 8, the sports festival for Physical Culture Day takes place in Elista as described above.

The Fifth Lotus Festival runs August 8-9 in Lagan and Dzhalykovo, featuring cultural performances, sports including SUP challenges, yoga, and ecological activities centered on the sacred lotus fields.

On August 15, 2026, the Kalmyk American Culture and Arts Foundation hosts a Naadam Festival (also called Jangariad) at Cruz Golf Club in Farmingdale, New Jersey, starting at 10:00 AM. This marks part of the 75th anniversary of Kalmyks in America. Planned activities include a golf tournament, traditional Naadam games, community soccer, performances, and culture and arts workshops. Registration is required via the organizers' site.

The exhibition "The Diamond Chariot. Buddhist Art of Russia" continues at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow through November 1, 2026, featuring Kalmyk Buddhist artifacts among over 700 items from multiple regions.

Later in August, the IV International Buddhist Forum is planned for August 17-20, 2026 (location details point to ongoing series involving Kalmykia, Buryatia, and others; previous editions were held in Kalmykia in 2025). Additional local Buddhist observances and heritage gatherings may occur in Elista's Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni and restored khuruls such as Dund Khurul in Khanata, which reopened earlier in the summer after restoration.

Trips to observe blooming lotuses from Elista continue into mid-August.

Artists from the Kalmyk ensemble Tulpan (Tulip) will take part in the Nomads World Cultural Festival (Кочевник-2026) in Mongolia from August 21 to 23, 2026. The event focuses on demonstrating and preserving the intangible cultural heritage of various ethnic groups while promoting traditional nomadic lifestyles in harmony with nature.

Key elements of the festival include presentations of traditions, crafts, and daily life from Mongolia's 21 aimags and Ulaanbaatar, an international conference, tastings of traditional nomadic cuisine, interactive cultural heritage stations featuring oral creativity, music, and traditional games, plus an exhibition-fair of handmade items. The gathering is linked to preparations for the UN climate conference COP17 in Mongolia and will feature free shuttles from Sukhbaatar Square. Participating regions and countries typically include those with nomadic roots such as Buryatia, Tuva, Kalmykia, Yakutia, Altai, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and others from Eurasia and China.

The participation highlights Kalmykia's ongoing efforts to share Kalmyk cultural traditions on an international stage.

On August 8, 2026, a major sports festival dedicated to the All-Russian Day of the Physical Cultural Worker will take place at the stadium of the Vostochny sports complex in Elista's 8th microdistrict. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 18:00. Organizers invite residents and guests of the Kalmyk capital to participate actively.

The program includes women's volleyball (from age 16), streetball as part of the nationwide "Orange Ball" action, a 1000-meter run, arm wrestling, and GTO multi-event competitions with categories for beginners, advanced (including family teams), and "GTO without borders" for people with limited mobility. Additional activities feature the national game of alchiki, a laser rifle shooting tournament for parent-child teams (from age 12), and doubles badminton.

Registration details are available through the sports department of MCU MC "Initiative" by phone or email.

From August 5 to 14, 2026, Kalmykia is hosting a large-scale cultural initiative called "Song - the Soul of the People." The project aims to revive interest in folk song traditions, support the region's musical culture, and create opportunities for amateur groups in smaller communities to perform alongside professional artists.

It features 10 concerts and 6 master classes at venues throughout the republic, including Elista, Yashkul, Komsomolsky, Lagan, Iki-Burul, Priyutnoe, Troitskoe, Ketchenery, and Malye Derbety. Performers include international competition laureate Artem Mulaev and Galina Marfina, a candidate of art history and associate professor at the V.S. Popov Academy of Choral Art. Marfina will also lead master classes on contemporary folk singing practices. Participants will receive certificates.

Accompanying the events are 10 traveling exhibitions titled "Holidays of the Peoples of Russia," timed to the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia. These display posters illustrating 30 unusual festivals created by ethnographers and young artists. Exhibitions open one hour before each concert.