From ancient nomadic traditions to contemporary music festivals, Kazakhstan is transforming destinations across the country into stages for massive cultural events.
Across Kazakhstan, festivals are becoming more than large celebrations. They are becoming a powerful driver of event tourism, helping regions attract visitors, support local businesses and build a new creative economy.
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The trend reflects a broader shift. Rather than concentrating cultural life in its largest cities, the country is turning valleys, canyons, lakes and national parks into festival destinations.
Whether visitors come to fly above alpine peaks, listen to contemporary music or experience centuries-old nomadic customs, festivals are giving travellers new reasons to explore the country's diverse regions.
Throughout the year, people gather to celebrate the blooming of the wild Sievers apple, sample local cuisine at gastronomic festivals, dance at open-air music events, watch international sporting competitions and experience nomadic traditions.
Nauryz: The roots of Kazakhstan's festival culture
Long before festivals became one of Kazakhstan's biggest tourism draws, nomads were already gathering to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Nauryz, celebrated every March, is the country's oldest and most important festival. Marking the spring equinox, it symbolises renewal, prosperity and the beginning of a new year. Families gather to share traditional dishes such as Nauryz kozhe, musicians perform folk music and cities and villages host sporting competitions, concerts and craft fairs.
Today the celebration lasts ten days in Kazakhstan. Nauryz is also recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is celebrated across much of Central Asia and beyond.
Flying above the Seven Rivers
Known as the ‘Land of Seven Rivers’, the Zhetysu region is one of Kazakhstan's most picturesque regions. It offers dramatic mountain ridges, alpine lakes and deep valleys stretching from the Dzungarian Alatau to Altyn-Emel National Park.
One of Kazakhstan's most spectacular summer festivals takes place high above the mountains of the Zhetysu region.
This year, the Paragliding Festival coincided with the Paragliding World Cup, bringing together around 150 pilots from 33 countries.
“We are doing this quite often. There are famous festivals like this in France, in the United States and many other places. They become a reason for people to gather, while many other activities grow around them,” said Goran Dimishkovski, President of the Paragliding World Cup Association.
The competition was organised by paragliding world champion David Virshki together with his father, Igor Virshki, who have spent years promoting the region as an international flying destination.
“It was always my dream to have such an event at my local site because our nature is very pristine and wild. Pilots tell me these landscapes are something they don't have in Europe. Flying above untouched mountains with these views is incredible,” David Virshki said.
Altai Fest welcomed 50,000 visitors in Katon-Karagay
Far to the east, another festival celebrates the cultural roots shared by Turkic peoples.
Held in Katon-Karagay, one of Kazakhstan's most pristine mountain districts, Altai Fest brought together artists and visitors from across the Turkic world.
This year, the Altai Fest welcomed 50,000 visitors.The festival concluded with a performance by Dimash Qudaibergen.
A festival inspired by camel's milk
Every August, the Ak Maya Festival transforms the spectacular canyons of the Mangystau region into an open-air cultural venue celebrating one of the area's oldest traditions — producing shubat (fermented camel's milk).
The festival combines ethnic music, contemporary art installations, local cuisine and workshops with the surreal desert landscapes that have made Mangystau increasingly popular among international travellers.
It is designed to promote sustainable tourism while introducing visitors to the region's nomadic heritage and the importance of camel breeding in western Kazakhstan.
Together, these festivals show how Kazakhstan is redefining tourism.
Instead of relying solely on traditional sightseeing, the country is creating experiences that encourage visitors to travel further and stay longer.
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