Featured performer
Folk string music
Melodies carried on traditional string instruments — the repertoire that anchors many of the festival's main-stage evenings.
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The living heritage of Asia, gathered each June in Ulaanbaatar.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia · Free & open to all.
Heritage keepers are heroic messengers — reminding us who we were and who we should be. The root of being human is cultural heritage. Let it enlighten our life.
A meeting place where folklore artists and heritage keepers perform, network, and learn from one another.
Asia Folk is a stage to promote the cultural heritage of Asian countries — and a platform where folklore artists and heritage keepers meet for friendship, study from one another, and find ideas for new work. A contest programme awards a Grand Prix and cash prizes, one of the ways the festival supports those who keep tradition alive.
"ArtLar Culture" NGO organises Asia Folk in Mongolia with permission from the World Association of Folklore Festivals (WAFF), as a brand branch of the World Championship of Folklore. The first edition was held in 2019 in Ulaanbaatar under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Mongolia, with support from the Ministry of Culture.
From 2023 the festival receives support from Ulaanbaatar City and the Arts and Cultural Department, with the City's Implementing Agency and the Ulaanbaatar Support Centre for SMEs as co-organisers. Today it pairs a folklore contest with a handcraft fair — all activities outdoors, and open to the public.
Every edition since the inaugural festival in 2019. Choose a year.
The widest gathering yet — over 140 artists from ten countries filled the open-air stage, alongside a handcraft fair drawing makers from across the continent.
Folklore and handcraft side by side — live outdoor performances, a handcraft fair, workshops and networking among heritage keepers in Ulaanbaatar.
A return to the open-air stage with 150 participants from six countries, and handcrafters from Japan, India and China presenting their work.
An online edition that kept the community connected — 100 artists from eleven countries took part with fifteen performances, judged by an international jury.
Winners of the on-stage folklore contest, June 12–15, 2025.
Alongside the cups, the jury awarded first-, second- and third-grade diplomas and special prizes to ensembles and soloists from across Asia. Handcrafters from Japan, India, Vietnam, China, the Sakha Republic and Korea presented their work at the fair.
A few of the heritage keepers who have brought their craft to the Ulaanbaatar stage.
Melodies carried on traditional string instruments — the repertoire that anchors many of the festival's main-stage evenings.
Watch on YouTube →
The deep overtone singing and long-song traditions of the steppe, performed alongside the morin khuur and other folk instruments.
Watch on YouTube →
Costume, gesture and rhythm passed down across generations — from solo dancers to full ensembles on the open-air stage.
Watch on YouTube →Open to folklore artists, heritage keepers and handcrafters from across Asia.
Solo artists and ensembles compete in folk music, song and dance. Winners receive the Grand Prix, the Golden, Silver and Bronze cups, diplomas and cash prizes.
Heritage handcrafters exhibit and sell their work and lead hands-on workshops, sharing techniques carried across generations.
The festival is a meeting place for heritage keepers to share, learn from one another and build a family that grows year by year.
Bring your tradition to the Ulaanbaatar stage.
Scenes from recent editions on the open-air stage in Ulaanbaatar.
The Asia Folk community widens year by year. Join us in Ulaanbaatar to perform, exhibit, or simply to watch.
Take part