Astana will become an AI hub for three days. From October 1 to 3, AI & Digital Bridge 2026 will bring together technology companies, investors, startups and developers. For Kazakh businesses, the forum is positioned as a place where discussions about artificial intelligence can turn into products, investment opportunities and new partnerships, DKNews.kz reports.
The international forum will take place at the EXPO International Exhibition Centre in Astana. The official AI & Digital Bridge 2026 website presents it as a technology platform for companies, startup founders and international investors. The source material also confirms that the forum will run from October 1 to 3.
Organisers expect more than 20,000 participants and over 100 technology companies in 2026. Over the years, the forum has brought together more than 127,000 participants from over 100 countries, 1,500 speakers, 600 startups and 500 investors.
After the $10 billion deal, the AI conversation is becoming more concrete
AI & Digital Bridge will take place against the backdrop of major technology agreements signed in Kazakhstan this year.
In June 2026, the Government of Kazakhstan, Firebird and NVIDIA signed a package of agreements worth $10 billion in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
According to official information from the Government of Kazakhstan, the project is aimed at developing large-scale computing infrastructure.
For businesses, this broadens the discussion well beyond deciding which AI service to use in the office. Computing power, data centres, cloud infrastructure, technology investment and exports are increasingly part of the same agenda.
The year 2026 has officially been declared the Year of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan. The relevant Presidential decree was published by Akorda. The source material also directly links the forum to Kazakhstan’s national digital agenda.
More than 20,000 participants: where businesses can find partners
The forum’s practical value lies in concentrating people who normally operate across different countries, companies and investment networks in one place.
The programme is designed to give participants access to representatives of global Big Tech, help them find investors and partners, present their own products and see how AI can already be applied in business.
Speakers announced for AI & Digital Bridge 2026 include Rev Lebaredian, Vice President at NVIDIA; Alex Mashrabov, co-founder of Higgsfield; Greg Wyler, founder and CEO of E-Space; William Ford, Chairman and CEO of General Atlantic; and Balaji Srinivasan, founder of Network School.
For businesses, the value of this lineup is not simply the prominence of the names. NVIDIA sits at the centre of the global AI computing market, General Atlantic represents large-scale investment capital, while technology founders can offer firsthand experience of building and scaling products internationally.
Banks, healthcare and AI agents will move into real business cases
The programme is not limited to discussions about large language models.
One of the core tracks is AI in the real economy. It will cover finance, banking, healthcare and other sectors, with a focus on AI agents and the practical deployment of artificial intelligence in operating businesses.
Another track will focus on Kazakhstan’s potential role as an AI hub for Eurasia, including AI infrastructure, Smart City systems, digital platforms and the development of regional IT hubs.
Global technology competition will also be discussed separately, with the United States, China, MENA, Europe and emerging technology centres considered through the lens of standards, rules and access to technology.
For a Kazakh company, the questions are practical: which technology should it deploy itself, where does it need an external partner, and which products could realistically be taken to international markets?
Startups will compete for investors, visibility and $100,000
One of the most competitive parts of the forum will be its startup programme.
Astana Hub will be responsible for Startup Alley, pitch sessions and Astana Hub Battle, giving technology teams a chance to present their solutions to investors, partners and an international audience.
According to the official Astana Hub Battle page, the 2026 competition has a $100,000 prize pool. Fifty teams are expected to pitch in the semifinals on October 2, while 14 startups will advance to the final on the main stage on October 3.
For founders, the prize money is only part of the opportunity. The same stage can also lead to an investor, a first international customer or a partner capable of helping a startup enter another market.
From startup to global AI company
A separate part of the programme targets companies that have already built a product but are trying to reach the next stage of growth.
The forum will cover international accelerators, venture capital, first customers, fundraising, expansion into foreign markets and scaling technology companies.
That closely reflects Astana Hub’s broader role. Its ecosystem connects technology companies, startups, investors and specialists, while supporting financing, incubation, acceleration and international cooperation programmes.
For a Kazakh technology company, success in the domestic market is only one stage. The next test is whether the same product can be sold abroad.
October 1 will not be open to everyone
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 will operate under different access rules across its three days.
On October 1, a special high-level programme will take place with senior state officials, international delegations and technology industry leaders. Participation in that day’s events will be by special invitation.
For the broader audience, the key dates will be October 2 and 3.
Those two days will feature the open programme with global technology companies, international speakers, startups and investors. Ticket holders will have access to the full public programme on both days.
Tickets and programme updates are available on the official AI & Digital Bridge 2026 website.
The forum will be funded by sponsors
There is also a notable financial detail behind the event.
According to the organisers, all forum expenses will be covered by sponsorship funding. Freedom Bank and Kaspi.kz are named as Gold Partners, BI Group as Digital Partner and Air Astana as Official Airline Partner.
The organisers are the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana Hub and the Astana city administration.
Together, these elements give the three-day forum a clear business structure: international technology companies, investors, Kazakhstan’s national AI agenda, startup competition and a meeting point for companies looking for new markets and partners.
Earlier, we wrote about how the new AI & Digital Bridge 2026 format differs from the previous Digital Bridge forum. The key dates are now set: October 1 for the invitation-only programme, and October 2–3 for the open programme at EXPO.
