ASTANA – Kanye West’s first solo concert in Central Asia generated an estimated 5 billion tenge (US$11 million) in tourism-related economic impact for Almaty, highlighting the growing role of major international concerts in attracting tourists and generating economic activity in Kazakhstan.
Photo credit: Tele2/ Altel
The concert, held on Aug. 15 at Almaty’s Central Stadium, attracted 31,000 spectators, including approximately 7,700 international visitors from more than 50 countries. Foreign guests came from Australia, China, Germany, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uzbekistan, among others. Around 2,000 international visitors were fans following the artist’s global tour.
According to Almaty’s Tourism Department, accommodation demand rose sharply between Aug. 13 and 16, with the average occupancy rate reaching around 98%. Kazinform reported on Aug. 20 that the concert was identified as one of the year’s major events for the city’s event tourism.
The show was initially scheduled for Aug. 14 but was postponed by one day due to deteriorating weather conditions. Despite the delay, organizers completed preparations for the large-scale production, assembling the main spherical structure within five days and bringing equipment to Almaty by one cargo aircraft and seven trucks. More than 4,400 people worked at the venue on the day of the concert, including security personnel, police, municipal services, technical and production teams, medical staff and stadium employees.
Previous major concerts in Kazakhstan
The economic impact of the Kanye West concert follows a series of major international performances that have strengthened Kazakhstan’s position as an emerging destination for global entertainment and event tourism.
In August 2025, Jennifer Lopez’s first concert in Kazakhstan generated nearly 10 billion tenge (US$21 million) in overall economic turnover in Almaty, while its multiplier effect in Astana was estimated at around 6.5 billion tenge (US$12 million).
The Backstreet Boys concerts were held in both Almaty and Astana in September 2025, with the Astana performance alone generating an estimated 7.8 billion tenge (US$17.1 million) in broader economic impact, according to Tengri News.
Kazakhstan’s concert calendar has continued to expand in 2026. Earlier this year, Deep Purple performed in Almaty, followed by Megadeth in June and Ricky Martin in July. The country also hosted major international festivals featuring artists such as Flo Rida, Busta Rhymes, Tyga, Nicole Scherzinger, Timbaland and Keri Hilson. Further major performances are scheduled, including Enrique Iglesias in September and artists participating in Park Live Almaty on Aug. 21-23.
The growing number of global performers and international visitors highlights Kazakhstan’s efforts to use major cultural events to increase inbound tourism, generate economic activity and strengthen the country’s visibility as a regional entertainment hub.
