What is Ysyakh and why it matters
Ysyakh is the ancient festival of the Sakha people, symbolising the rebirth of nature and the arrival of summer. Since ancient times it has been tied to the summer solstice — June 21–22, when the sun is at its zenith and the longest day of the year turns into a white night. In modern Yakutia this day is an official public holiday. Ysyakh is not just a festival, but a powerful cultural code that unites all the people of the republic.
A month‑long celebration
The Ysyakh season officially opens on June 10 and lasts until July 5. The main republican Ysyakh is traditionally held on the last weekend of June at the Üs Khatyng site near Yakutsk (in 2026 — June 27–28). But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: every ulus (district), every nasleg (village), and many organisations and families hold their own celebrations. The dates of local Ysyakhs are not always fixed in advance — we track the schedule and can arrange your visit to any of them.
If your business trip or flight doesn’t match the official dates in Yakutsk, don’t worry — we’ll find an alternative Ysyakh where you’ll get the same emotions and just as much Yakut warmth.
Why the individual format is an advantage
You are not tied to one date or one place. We can plan a tour so that you visit the Ysyakh in the district that interests you, or even attend several different celebrations during one trip. Wherever Ysyakh takes place, the programme is unique everywhere, but the spirit remains the same: concerts, national costumes, sports competitions, songs and festivities until dawn.
What you’ll see and taste
- The Algys ritual — an ancient blessing ceremony performed by an algyschyt (shaman) at a sacred fire.
- Osuokhai — a circular dance uniting hundreds of people. You can join the circle.
- Horse races on the famous Yakut horses.
- National cuisine: kumis, foal meat, khaan (blood sausage), salamat and much more.
- Sports competitions: khapasagay wrestling, mas‑wrestling, jumping over sledges.
“Ysyakh is the moment when we all become one. Sakha, Russians, guests from other countries — we greet the sun together and rejoice in life.”— from an elder’s story
How to organise your trip
We work in an individual format. You tell us your preferred dates between June 10 and July 5, and we select a suitable Ysyakh — whether it’s a large republican celebration or a cosy local one where you can experience the atmosphere more deeply. Transfers, accommodation, guide services and meals are all included.
