Comic Con Astana 2026, the largest contemporary pop culture festival in Central Asia, has officially opened in Kazakhstan’s capital. On the first day of the event, thousands of fans of cosplay, film, comics, anime, and video games gathered at Barys Arena and the Alau Ice Palace.
The festival’s main opening events took place at Barys Arena. An international cosplay competition was held here, where participants presented dozens of detailed costumes inspired by films, TV series, anime, comics, and video games. The winners will share the prize fund of 20 million tenge.
One of the highlights of the opening day was the Q&A session with Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The actor appeared on stage wearing a traditional Kazakh shapan presented to him by the festival organizers. During the meeting, he shared his first impressions of Kazakhstan, praising the hospitality of local residents. He also revealed that he had already tasted traditional Kazakh dishes, including horse meat, and the national drink kumis.
Fans asked questions about his portrayal of Jaime Lannister, his acting career, favorite films and TV series, as well as future projects, and the actor himself responded warmly and humorously throughout the discussion.
For the second year in a row, Comic Con Astana is hosted by Kazakh actor, top model, and influencer Almaz Merzhakypov. According to him, the festival has become much more than a gathering for pop culture enthusiasts – it has grown to a place that brings like-minded people together.
“I never stop being surprised because every year Comic Con amazes me with the size of its community. It truly brings people together. Just like at big music concerts, you see thousands of people united by the same passion, and it’s incredible to witness. I’m especially impressed by the attention participants pay to every detail of their costumes — that, to me, is also a form of culture. I hope the festival continues to grow every year. I’m already looking forward to coming back for the next Comic Con.”
He added that it is the participants themselves who create the festival’s unique atmosphere.
“It seems to me that people who don’t come to Comic Con have a lot to lose. Seeing your favorite characters come to life, even if they are not real, is incredibly emotional. Comic Con is a form of self-expression. It’s a place where young people and like-minded fans can come together, showcase their creativity, and share common interests.”
Meanwhile, the Alau Ice Palace hosted a full day of entertainment, including amateur cosplay competitions, meetings with popular bloggers, dozens of workshops, concerts, and dance performances. Visitors also explored the Star Alley, Otaku Game Zone, Battle Zone, Artist Alley, the merchandise fair, board game area, food court, and other interactive spaces.
Comic Con Astana 2026 runs through August 9. Over the coming days, visitors can look forward to more celebrity Q&A and autograph sessions, gaming tournaments, workshops, concerts, cosplay showcases, and dozens of other events.
The full festival schedule and tickets are available on the official Comic Con Astana website and through Yandex Afisha.
