ASTANA — Kazakhstan will host a series of major international concerts in 2026 featuring global music stars, as officials step up efforts to develop festival tourism and attract foreign visitors, Kazakh Tourism Chairman Talgat Gazizov said at a Jan. 27 government meeting.
Collage is created by The Astana Times
Solana music festival is the first large-scale event. Scheduled for May, it will feature international artists, such as Timbaland, Nicole Scherzinger, Busta Rhymes, Tyga, Keri Hilson and Flo Rida, according to Gazizov.
“At least five major concerts are expected to take place this year,” he said, adding that they expect more than 75,000 international visitors. In comparison, more than 25,000 international visitors attended concerts in Kazakhstan in 2025.
Large-scale music and entertainment events are increasingly viewed by officials as drivers of inbound tourism and international visibility.
Gazizov said Kazakh Tourism is developing festival tourism by forming a dedicated task force to create travel packages linked to concerts and major cultural events. The initiative involves cooperation with media partners and tour operators in neighboring countries to attract foreign visitors to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan’s hospitality sector is also gaining international recognition, Gazizov said. More than 1,100 tour packages to Kazakhstan are currently listed on 18 major online platforms across the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe and Asia.
“Today, more than 1,100 tours to Kazakhstan are listed on 18 major online platforms across the CIS, Europe and Asia, which is three times higher than in 2023,” Gazizov said, adding that the growth reflects rising interest from international tour operators.
The concerts come amid a broader government push to expand the tourism sector. According to the government data, investment in Kazakhstan’s tourism industry rose by 32% in 2025, reaching 1.25 trillion tenge (US$2.5 billion). Officials are focusing on attracting international tourists, improving infrastructure and developing large-scale cultural and entertainment events as part of a long-term strategy.
“According to global practice, every $1 invested in tourism generates $3 in overall economic impact,” said Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov at the government meeting.
