This year, 176 berkutchi and over 50 tazy breeders and trainers participated in the festival. In addition to Kazakhstan, representatives from Hungary, Georgia, Spain, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan also participated in the competition.
The large-scale competition, held at the Burkіt Tөbe ethnocomplex in the village of Bozanbai in the Ulan District, aimed to popularize the hunting traditions of the Kazakh people and present their national heritage at the international level.
The Burkіt Tөbe venue brought together berkutchi and falconers, for whom working with birds of prey is not just a sporting competition, but an art that requires years of experience, patience, and a special understanding with the avian hunter. Participants demonstrated their mastery of handling golden eagles, falcons, and hawks, and also presented the falconry traditions of their countries. Fifty snow-white yurts were erected on the grounds of the ethno-complex, where guests were introduced to the traditions, culture, and crafts of the Kazakh people, as well as the history and tourism potential of the region's cities and districts.
The Open Cup, organized for the first time in Asia, is an important cultural event designed to widely popularize the rich heritage of falconry and pass it on to future generations. International competitions introduce guests to the hunting traditions of different countries and strengthen cultural ties.
The history of "Shygys Salburyny" began in 2021, with the berkutchi competition in Bozanbay. The first tournament was held under the name "Kansonar," and since 2022, the event has been held as the "Shygys Salburyny" international festival. Today, the event is reaching a new level. The festival has been included in the calendar of major events of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan for 2026. In addition to the kuzbegiler competition, the festival featured competitions in national sports, Tazy dog ​​races, wild horse taming, horseback archery, and horseback coin picking. The program also included a craft fair, a concert featuring renowned artists, and, of course, an awards ceremony.

Thus, the "Shygys Salburyny" festival combined several themes: athletic competition, cultural insights, and the preservation of traditions passed down from generation to generation. For Bozanbai, this was an opportunity to establish itself internationally, and for visitors, to see ancient nomadic art not in a museum exhibit, but in real life.

This year, a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Commission of Kazakhstan for UNESCO visited the region. Commission representatives noted that Bozanbai is creating conditions for preserving ancient customs and passing on unique skills to future generations. According to them, it is important for masters to share their experience not only with their fellow countrymen but also with foreign guests.
The tradition also has an international perspective. Official UNESCO materials for 2026 include a proposal to inscribe a festival featuring tazy and golden eagles on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The art of falconry is already included on this list. Kazakhstan is one of the countries participating in the international nomination.
Following the intense and spectacular competition, the winners were determined.
The winners in the golden eagle competition: 1st place - Serikbolsyn Zhalgasuly (Zhambyl region), 2nd place - Yerasyl Serikbekuly (Astana), 3rd place - Bergenbay Tastanbek (Akmola region), 3rd place - Ayazhan Daniyarkyzy (Almaty).
Winners in the hawk competition: 1st place - Zaki Makhmudkhan (Turkestan Region), 2nd place - Berikbolsyn Babajan (Zhambyl Region), 3rd place - Khalifa Altay Mubarak (East Kazakhstan Region), 3rd place - Yerasyl Serikbekuly (Astana).
Winners in the saker falcon competition: 1st place - Temirali Tolegenuly (Karaganda Region), 2nd place - Bakdaulet Babajan (Zhambyl Region), 3rd place - Anuar Kenes (Akmola Region), 3rd place - Yeral Tastanbek (Akmola Region).
The winners in the tazy running competition were: 1st place - Yerzhan Zhaiyk (dog's name - Karauyz (city of Ust-Kamenogorsk), 2nd place - Sayat Kalakayev. Dog's name: Akbakay (Semey), 3rd place: Meyir Zhetpisov. Dog's name: Lashyn (Tarbagatai District).
The "Shygys Salburyny - 2026" festival was attended by approximately 15,000 people. This is an important indicator, demonstrating the high interest in national sports and traditional art.
Falconry is a unique art of our people, born in close connection with nature and passed down from generation to generation. The first open Asian Cup opened new opportunities for promoting this heritage internationally and expanding the horizons of the national sport. The berkutchi competitions, which gathered in Bozanbay, once again demonstrated that ancient traditions live on.