Tsagaannuur, Khovsgol Province, Mongolia – 5 August 2026 – The 8th World Reindeer Herders Congress officially opened today in Tsagaannuur, Khovsgol Province, Mongolia, bringing together Indigenous reindeer herders, community leaders and partners from across the circumpolar North for four days of cultural exchange, professional dialogue and international cooperation.

Organised by the World Reindeer Herders (WRH) in cooperation with the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR), the Congress is a unique global gathering dedicated to strengthening cooperation among reindeer herding peoples and addressing the shared opportunities and challenges facing reindeer husbandry today.

This year's Congress welcomes participants from Norway, Sweden, Finland, USA, Scotland and Mongolia. The event is co-hosted by the Dukha Reindeer Herding Community of Mongolia, with strong participation from local Dukha reindeer herders, including representatives of the Green Taiga organisation.
The opening day features a ceremonial opening with greetings from WRH Vice-President Dr. Ellen Inga Turi, Deputy Governor of Khuvsgul Aimag Mr. Gansukh Tserenbadam, President of Sámi Parliament of Norway Hon. Silje Karine Muotka, Chair of Green Taiga and Dukha Reindeer Herders CSO Mrs. Dalaijargal Gombo, Co-Chair of the International Steering Committee for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and WRH Secretary General Mr. Anders Oskal and others, a Dukha cultural performance, traditional reindeer racing and community celebrations, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Mongolia's Indigenous reindeer herding communities.

Over the following days, delegates will participate in formal Congress sessions, including the presentation of the WRH Board's report, discussions on the draft Tsagaannuur Declaration, elections, and planning for the next World Reindeer Herders Congress. Professional exchanges will focus on key issues affecting reindeer herding communities, with Day Three dedicated to land degradation and its impacts on reindeer husbandry. The programme also includes the Reindeer Herders' World Championship of Lasso Throwing, celebrating traditional skills that remain central to reindeer herding cultures.

The Congress takes place during the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), a global initiative led by Mongolia to highlight the importance of sustainable rangeland management and the vital contributions of pastoralist communities worldwide. Later this month, Mongolia will also host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, bringing global attention to land restoration, drought resilience and the future of rangelands. The timing of the Congress underscores the growing international recognition of Indigenous knowledge and pastoral livelihoods as essential to healthy ecosystems and resilient landscapes.

The 8th World Reindeer Herders Congress is supported by the GEF/UNEP Reindeer Herding and Resilience project, an international initiative working to strengthen the resilience of reindeer herding communities through collaboration, knowledge exchange and sustainable development across the circumpolar region.

As reindeer herders from across the North gather in Mongolia, the Congress provides an important platform to strengthen international cooperation, celebrate Indigenous cultures and shape a shared vision for the future of reindeer husbandry in a rapidly changing world. 

Photos by ICR, more photos here: Intlreindeer, ICR/WRH