In February 2026, Astana will turn into a meeting point for the world’s future engineers. From 11 to 13 February, the EXPO International Exhibition Center will host ALEM TECH FEST 2026 - the largest robotics and STEM festival in Central Asia. More than 5,000 school students from seven countries will take part, and this will be far more than a series of competitions. It will be a place where the next generation of engineers, programmers, and technology creators is taking shape, DKNews.kz reports.
Already, the festival is being described as an event that reshapes the educational landscape of the region. Across 15,000 square meters, students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong will present engineering solutions, fly drones, program humanoid robots, and work with artificial intelligence in real, applied tasks.
Archaeology Meets Robotics
The central highlight of ALEM TECH FEST 2026 will be the Central Asia FIRST Championship - part of the global FIRST movement that brings school students together through engineering and educational programs.
Each FIRST season is built around a specific theme, and this year’s direction is both unexpected and ambitious - “Archaeology”.
Since October, Kazakhstani students have been taking part in regional championships and qualifying rounds, presenting their projects to practicing archaeologists and industry specialists. For more than four months, teams have been developing real engineering solutions designed to simplify fieldwork, speed up excavations, and improve research accuracy.
As a result, nearly one third of the more than 1,200 teams from across the country advanced to the next stage. That means over 450 teams and around 5,000 students.
From Astana to Houston
The national championship in Astana will determine 50 of the strongest teams, which will go on to represent the country at international competitions.
Fourteen teams will travel to Houston, USA, to take part in the main global final of the FIRST Championship, which brings together more than 50,000 participants from around the world.
The remaining 36 teams will compete at international stages in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, Türkiye (Istanbul and Ankara), the United Arab Emirates, China (five cities), Greece, and South Korea.
For many students, this will be their first international engineering experience and an entry point into the global technology community.
Robots, Drones, and Humanoids: What to Expect at the Festival
ALEM TECH FEST 2026 goes far beyond FIRST alone. The festival program covers key areas of modern robotics and STEM education.
FIRST LEGO League
Competitions will take place across three age categories:
- FLL Discover (ages 4–6)
- FLL Explore (ages 6–10)
- FLL Challenge (ages 10–16)
Even preschoolers will solve engineering challenges and develop their first projects using LEGO construction sets.
Alem Drone League
Competitions across four areas: drone football, FPV racing, virtual training and simulator-based contests, as well as engineering disciplines focused on drone design and configuration.
RoboCup Soccer
Football tournaments featuring humanoid robots, where teams demonstrate autonomy, strategy, and precision control.
Physical AI Championship
One of the most advanced segments of the festival. Participants work with humanoid platforms, developing algorithms for movement, object recognition, and strategic behavior, strengthening their skills in artificial intelligence, programming, and systems thinking.
RoboCup Rescue (Dogs & Rovers)
Competitions for mobile robots tasked with navigation, search, and mapping in environments that simulate emergency situations such as debris and obstacles.
Dobots
A beginner-friendly section focused on assembling mobile robots, basic control tasks, and the fundamentals of mechatronics and logic.
Battle of Bots
Head-to-head robot battles where teams showcase the strength of their designs, engineering solutions, tactical thinking, and control skills.
Hour of AI: Artificial Intelligence Made Accessible
A distinctive feature of the festival will be the large-scale educational program Hour of AI. This global initiative introduces students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning through interactive tasks, games, and hands-on exercises.
The goal is to show how artificial intelligence works in everyday applications and to inspire students to explore future technologies through their own STEM projects.
There will be no dry theory here - only practice, experimentation, and a clear understanding of how modern technologies are already shaping the world around us.
More Than Just a Festival
ALEM TECH FEST 2026 is not simply about competitions and demonstrations. It is a gateway to the future for thousands of students, a platform for early career orientation, and a space where engineering thinking, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills are developed.
The festival is organized with the support of government bodies, technology ecosystems, and industry partners. The general sponsor is the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund.
In February 2026, Astana will become a place where the future is not just discussed, but built - with code, sensors, motors, and bold ideas.
