People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Dimash Qudaibergen is set to become the first singer from the CIS countries to perform a solo concert at one of the world’s most iconic venues — Madison Square Garden in New York City. This legendary arena, which has hosted the greatest stars over the past 150+ years, will soon welcome the voice that has captivated millions across the globe. The news of Dimash’s upcoming solo show in New York came like a bolt from the blue. DK Media Europe correspondents, who recently attended his European fan meetings, followed the developments closely.
From the very first seconds of ticket sales, the website of the ticket operator crashed under the pressure of overwhelming demand. Even Dimash himself, who humbly mentioned the concert during a fan meeting in Almaty, likely didn’t anticipate just how excited fans would be. But it’s no surprise — for many sports and music lovers, attending a show at Madison Square Garden is a dream. And if the artist gracing that legendary stage is none other than the “best voice on the planet,” the excitement is only natural.
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Barely catching their breath after the race to get tickets, fans began making their way to Barcelona for a personal meeting with their beloved artist.
June 2025 turned out to be a particularly eventful and fruitful month for Dimash. It began in sunny Spain, with his first-ever Western European fan meeting and a press conference. Then he flew to London as a guest performer at the solo concert of the world-renowned Canadian-Belgian singer Lara Fabian. The following day, he held another fan meeting in the British capital. After the highly anticipated premiere of “My Way” performed with the operatic legends Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, Dimash took part in events at the Central Asia–China Summit in Astana and gave a dazzling performance at the closing of the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Fans gathered at Barcelona airport to greet Dimash with a coordinated international choir, drawing curious looks from unsuspecting travelers. Later, with his signature humor, Dimash joked about his musical fans during the fan meeting:
“Some of them are more talented than me.”
That evening, in the waiting hall of a distant Spanish airport, the Diars (as Dimash’s fans are known) sang his new song in Kazakh, “Tau içinde.”
The next day, at a cozy hall in the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, Dimash officially launched the Western leg of his “Stranger” tour. Though fans across the globe eagerly await him, this year’s confirmed stops include London, Berlin, Riga, Barcelona, and New York. Speaking about his upcoming shows, Dimash reiterated a message his fans know well:
“Every time I go on stage, no matter where in the world, I try to give my best performance. My fans deserve a good show, good songs. That’s why I do everything I can.”
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Singing in multiple languages, Dimash never misses a chance to show respect to the host country. In Spain, he learned a few welcoming phrases in Spanish especially for the local audience, which they received with great enthusiasm.
“I’m very happy to be here. Thank you all for your support. And of course, at the concert in Spain, I’ll do my best to sing in Spanish,” he promised.
That’s exactly what fans wanted to hear — after all, Dimash is known for preparing surprises for each of his solo concerts. And Barcelona, it seems, will be no exception.
In fact, attendees didn’t even have to wait for the concert to hear him sing in Spanish. The iconic “Bésame mucho” rang out more than once during the evening, with the entire room singing along.
“That’s our song for the concert then,” joked Dimash’s father and producer of the DimashAli Creative Center, Kanat Aitbayev, who also took part in the fan meeting.
But it’s not only the fans whose dreams are coming true. For Dimash himself, performing a solo show at Madison Square Garden has long been a cherished dream. When asked whether he’s afraid that dreams like these might soon run out, he replied:
“I’m not afraid. I’m excited. My dreams come true thanks to Allah and to you — my fans. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you so much!”
Returning to the topic of the New York show, Dimash shared that he’s preparing a special program:
“I want to invite several world-famous guests. And even though Madison Square Garden is one of the world’s most renowned stages, for me, the most important thing is to do my job 100% to earn your applause. Still, this concert will be a historic moment — for my country, for Kazakhstan. I will be the first artist from any of the former Soviet republics to perform a solo show there. I’m truly grateful to every member of my team, my parents, my musicians, my friends — thank you all. I’m very emotional right now.”
His gratitude is more than understandable, as is the sincere appreciation he shows for his parents and friends who helped shape his career. As his father, Kanat Aitbayev, put it:
“Dimash grew up in a musical family. All my friends are musicians. All my wife’s friends are musicians too. Everyone who comes to our house sings. Even though my own parents worked in different fields, they also sang. On his mother’s side — everyone sings too. So really, Dimash had no choice but to become a musician.”
The same goes for his younger brother, Abilmansur, who attended the fan meeting in a new role — as Dimash’s mobile videographer. At one point during the warm, almost family-like evening, Dimash asked his brother to join him on piano. Together they performed “Mahabbat ber magan,” the unofficial anthem of Dimash’s fan base, while the entire multicultural audience joined in. Dimash captured the heartfelt moment on camera.
It’s worth noting that many of Dimash’s international fans have not only learned his Kazakh songs, but also become deeply interested in Kazakh culture and in Kazakhstan itself. This is undoubtedly thanks to Dimash’s tireless efforts and devotion to his roots.
“We love you for your music and your talent. Because of you, we’ve discovered a new country in our lives and in our hearts,” said one fan. When she asked Dimash about his mission as an artist, he responded:
“Even as a child, I dreamed of this moment. Now I have the chance to share our rich culture and its deep philosophy with the world. I want to showcase our cultural heritage, our country, and our beautiful songs. I finally have the opportunity to fulfill that mission — and I have a very good reason to keep going.”
And Dimash is more than up to the task. One fan shared how she discovered not only Kazakh folklore through him, but also the history behind traditional songs, like the 100-year-old “Balkadisha.”
“It’s such an old song. Because of you, I learned its history. We listen to songs in English, Russian, but most of all — in Kazakh. This song made me cry.”
Another moving moment came when a fan from the Philippines said:
“Thank you for introducing us to Kazakh culture. I really find Kazakh music beautiful. One of my favorite songs is ‘Dudarai.’”
She performed the song a cappella on stage, and Dimash and his father couldn’t help but join her.
Then came a story from a young woman in Spain, who said that Dimash’s music helped her communicate with her mother, who has dementia. Dimash gently held the elderly woman’s hands and offered kind words of comfort. The room was filled with tears and admiration for this young artist’s compassionate heart.
Looking around the hall, it was clear that this fan meeting was a true celebration of diversity. Among the 400 attendees were fans from Spain, Italy, Mexico, Germany, Austria, the UK, Switzerland, the USA, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Latin America, Israel, Vietnam, Russia, Kazakhstan, and more. There were men and women, the elderly, young adults, and even children.
Dimash lifted his youngest fan into his arms, held the mic for her, and asked her what she wanted to say. She asked him what his favorite song was. He answered with Kazakhstan’s National Anthem — and then added “S.O.S. d’un terrien en détresse,” the legendary aria from the French rock opera “Starmania.”
This song, performed by Dimash on the 2017 Chinese TV show “I’m Singer,” became his global breakthrough. When meeting French President Emmanuel Macron, Dimash spoke of his love for French culture and that song in particular:
“‘S.O.S.’ is more than a song to me. It’s a very special story, with deep philosophical meaning. People who watched me on ‘I’m Singer’ may think I was only trying to show off my vocal range. But I sang it from the heart, from the soul. I love this song very much. It will always be in my heart.”
Fans also asked what Dimash might have become if not a singer. He replied without hesitation:
“I’ve always wanted to be a singer. I never had any doubts. Maybe God had His own plan — but I never once questioned my path. I don’t even know why. It just all came together like I dreamed as a child.”
His father added a heartwarming story:
“When he was about five, he started drawing stages, equipment, drums, guitars, all sorts of instruments. I asked him, ‘What is this?’ And he said, ‘That’s my stage. I’ll sing there. I’ll sing for the whole world.’ And now, it’s happening exactly as he imagined.”
Fans are united in their belief that Dimash’s voice is truly one of a kind, and they often express concern about how he’ll protect such a rare gift. To reassure them, he shared some insights into his vocal technique:
“Since I support all my notes with a solid base, I don’t feel pressure on my vocal cords — even during four-hour concerts. I sing in various genres, languages, tessituras, and switch registers. I feel comfortable both during and after performances. Sometimes, right after a concert, I feel like doing another one immediately — I’m just so energized. As for the future, I think my voice will continue to grow. Of course, the timbre will evolve, but with the right technique, it will last for many more years.”
That energy Dimash spoke of was felt by everyone in the room during clips from his recent feature film, based on his two 2024 solo concerts in Astana. When asked how it felt to perform in front of 40,000 people, Dimash simply said:
“It’s scary.”
His father added:
“Let me take this chance to thank our audience. According to the ticket service, over 13,000 people from 82 countries attended those concerts. Can you imagine the scale? We’re incredibly grateful to you for making that journey and giving us your time. Please come back to Kazakhstan — we’ll always welcome you with open arms!”
No one in the room doubted the sincerity of Kanat Aitbayev’s words. Many of those present had already visited Kazakhstan multiple times and had fallen in love with the country. They actively promote Kazakh culture in their home countries, learn the language, play traditional instruments, and organize charity events for Kazakh schools and orphanages. When floods struck the country last year, they raised funds to help victims. Kanat Aitbayev shared:
“Last year there was a natural disaster. Huge areas of Kazakhstan were flooded. But no one stood aside. Diars donated large sums to the relief fund, which helped rebuild homes. We’re deeply grateful to all of you!”
The entire event was filled with warmth, kindness, and meaningful exchanges. Fans brought handmade portraits, a Spanish national instrument, records, rare vinyl, FC Barcelona jerseys, and countless bouquets. The gifts were endless — a reflection of how deeply loved this artist truly is. Every fan who stepped up to the mic began not with a question, but with words of gratitude.
And Dimash, in turn, thanked them all:
“For me, being here is a great joy. For any artist, having such a passionate, devoted fanbase that supports every step — that’s a blessing. Thank you for giving me the chance to perform for you.”
Truly, there’s no artist who wouldn’t dream of fans like these — ready to cross oceans and continents, borders and time zones, just to be by their favorite artist’s side.
