UNESCO-IISNC

Exhibition dates: 21-23 August 2026, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

he Italian Association for Ethnoarchaeology (IAE) and the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations (IISNC) under the auspices of UNESCO are pleased to announce the organization of the international exhibition, “The World of Mongolian and Italian Pastoralism: Surviving Climate Change and Modernity,” to be held in Mongolia in 2026.
The year 2026 coincides with three major international milestones: the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which will be hosted by Mongolia, and the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026).
The exhibition aims to introduce participants of COP17, as well as audiences attending related IYRP and IYWF events, to the rich cultural, historical, and contemporary dimensions of Mongolian and Italian pastoralism. Through a diachronic and comparative approach, the exhibition will explore the evolution of pastoral lifeways, their resilience, and the challenges they face today, including climate change, desertification, modernization, and socio-economic transformation. It will also highlight the vital role of pastoral communities in safeguarding cultural heritage, biodiversity, and sustainable land management practices.
The main curatorial team will be led by Francesca Lugli and Graziano Capitini of the Italian Association for Ethnoarchaeology (IAE), together with Munkhtuul Chuluunbaatar of the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations (IISNC), in collaboration with Otgonsuren Dugarsuren of the National Museum of Mongolia and Batkhuyag O. of the Department of Culture and Arts.
The exhibition will be endorsed by Professor Bumochir Dulam, Honourable Member of Parliament of Mongolia.