Comic Con Astana set a new attendance record. More than 76,000 people visited the fifth-anniversary edition of Central Asia’s largest contemporary pop culture festival, held in Kazakhstan’s capital from August 6 to 9, DKNews.kz reports.
The four-day event brought together guests and participants from more than 40 countries and, for the first time in its history, featured four international headliners.
More than 76,000 visitors in four days
Comic Con Astana 2026 took place simultaneously at two of the capital’s largest venues — Barys Arena and Alau Ice Palace.
The anniversary edition became the biggest in the festival’s history, with hundreds of events taking place across both venues.
Attendance also reached new highs:
- More than 16,000 visitors on the opening day
- More than 76,000 visitors over four days
- Participants and guests from more than 40 countries
- Four international headliners for the first time
- Around 500 people working in the core organizational and venue preparation teams
Visitors came from Russia, China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Cyprus, Thailand, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and other countries.
The international lineup included actors, artists, cosplayers, bloggers and content creators.
Game of Thrones and Peaky Blinders stars come to Astana
For the first time, Comic Con Astana welcomed four international acting headliners.
They were Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for playing Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones; Paul Anderson, who portrayed Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders; and One Piece stars Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar.
The actors participated in Q&A sessions, autograph signings and photo sessions with fans.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau said his first experience of Kazakhstan left a strong impression.
«My first impression of any country is its people. I have to say, I was welcomed very warmly in Kazakhstan. People here are open and friendly. I was also shown photos of Kazakhstan’s landscapes — there are some incredible places. Now I definitely have to come back to see them for myself, especially Mangystau,» Nikolaj Coster-Waldau shared.
The actor also promised to “pass the torch” of visiting Kazakhstan to George R. R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Paul Anderson calls it his best Comic Con
British actor Paul Anderson also praised the Astana festival.
«I am who I am. I don’t know how to pretend or put on an act, and I usually speak honestly about my experiences. So I can genuinely say this: this is the best Comic Con I’ve ever been to,» the actor said.
Beyond the main headliners, the festival welcomed a large group of bloggers, artists, cosplayers and digital creators.
Among the special guests were Jay Kim, Kirill Soerov, Danya Kraster, Jane Kravitz, Karrambaby, Dobryak, Dalbek, FixEye, Egor Shkred, Paolo Pantalena, Anya Hahadetka, Ten Yujin, Domer Grief and Nowkie.
Throughout all four days, Alau Ice Palace hosted the Alley of Stars, where visitors could meet guests, take photographs and get autographs.
Kazakh creators get their own platform
Supporting Kazakhstan’s creative industries remains one of the festival’s main priorities.
Comic Con gives young artists, illustrators, writers, cosplayers, developers and digital creators an opportunity to show their work to large audiences and meet industry professionals.
One of the projects presented in 2026 was Tengrida: Cyber Steppe, an art film combining cyberpunk aesthetics, artificial intelligence and cultural motifs inspired by the Great Steppe.
Visitors saw a three-minute AI-animated episode featuring Tengrida, a heroine who enters a cyber-arena to restore people’s ability to see the truth and bring justice back to the world.
From cosplay character to original universe
The project was co-created by Almaty-based cosplayer Aruzhan Zhunusova, known as Aruvibez, who also developed the character.
She originally presented Tengrida at Comic Con Astana in 2025.
The positive audience response helped turn the character into the foundation of an original fictional universe, Tengrida: Cyber Steppe.
The project is now expected to take part in the Astana AI Film Festival.
The development illustrates how Comic Con Astana is increasingly becoming more than a showcase for finished projects. It can also serve as an entry point for local creators looking for audiences, collaborators and opportunities to develop their ideas further.
Cosplay contest offers 20 million tenge
The international cosplay competition remained one of the festival’s central events.
Participants from different countries appeared on the main stage with elaborate costumes and choreographed performances, including staged combat and demonstrations involving character weapons and props.
The jury included:
- Kamui Cosplay
- Leon Chiro
- Emilia Grafomanka
- Zakos Snowman
- Tais Tukanova
- Sazura
- Anna Bricks
The total prize pool reached 20 million tenge.
Comic Con Astana 2026 also featured a music program, including a performance by South Korean K-pop group Kandis.
Geek culture becomes part of urban life
Festival producer Natalya Abrashkina said Comic Con Astana began as an experimental project for the capital but has since grown far beyond its initial scale.
«Over the years, Comic Con Astana has grown not only in terms of the number of participants and guests — the perception of geek culture itself has changed. It has become part of contemporary urban culture and a space where people of different ages and interests can find one another.»
The expansion of the festival also requires a large organizational structure.
Around 500 people work in the headquarters and teams responsible for pavilion construction and venue preparation alone. With contractors and other specialists included, the overall workforce is roughly three times larger.
Festival director Beksultan Abdrakhmanov said preparations continue for months before visitors arrive.
«Comic Con isn’t just four days of a festival. Behind those four days are months of preparation and a huge team. Every year, we strive to create an international-level event here in Kazakhstan while also providing a platform for our writers, artists, cosplayers, and other members of the creative industry to grow and develop,» said Beksultan Abdrakhmanov.
Why Comic Con matters for Astana
Five editions have transformed Comic Con Astana from a new event format into one of Kazakhstan’s most recognizable contemporary cultural brands.
Its economic and social significance now extends beyond entertainment.
A festival attracting more than 76,000 visitors and guests from over 40 countries can support event tourism, hospitality, creative businesses and the international visibility of Astana.
At the same time, the festival gives Kazakhstan’s own creative community direct access to large audiences and international professionals.
That combination — global entertainment brands alongside local creators — is becoming one of Comic Con Astana’s defining features.
The fifth-anniversary edition ended with new attendance records, but its longer-term impact may lie in the community growing around it: fans, artists, cosplayers, filmmakers, developers and content creators who increasingly see Astana as a regional meeting point for contemporary pop culture.
