2026 World Nomad Games: Kyrgyz and Kazakh improvisational poets conclude aitys competition

A three-day contest between Kyrgyz and Kazakh improvisational poets has concluded at Kyrchyn pasture in the Issyk-Kul region as part of the VI World Nomad Games.

The international aitys brought together the two traditions of oral poetry in one performance space. The competition combined sharp language, inventive ideas, the sounds of the komuz and dombra, and the performers’ skills. The poets sang about historical ties, friendship and unity between the two peoples, as well as present achievements and future goals.

Askaraly Madaminov, deputy minister of culture, information and youth policy of Kyrgyzstan, attended the closing ceremony and presented prizes to the winners and other award recipients.

Meirbek Sultankhan and Elmirbek Imanaliev shared the grand prize of 300,000 soms. The first-place prize of 250,000 soms went to Mukhtar Niyazov and Nursultan Malybaev. Khazyret Berdikhan and Kutman Sadybakasov took second place with a 200,000-som prize, while Nurlan Esenkulov and Akmatbek Sultan uulu received 150,000 soms for third place. Other participating poets also received cash awards for their active participation. The total prize fund was 3 million soms.