Comic Con Astana 2026 Draws 76,000 Visitors, Showcasing Kazakhstan's Pop Culture Growth

Comic Con Astana 2026 drew an impressive crowd of over 76,000 attendees from 40 countries, showcasing the burgeoning popularity of pop culture in Kazakhstan and the festival's expanding global footprint. The event, held from August 6 to 9, spanned two major venues, Barys Arena and Alau Ice Palace, bringing together fans of film, television, comics, gaming, and cosplay.

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I haven’t seen much of Astana yet. But when I went into one of the shopping malls, I saw this huge sphere right next to it. I also got to see the giant tent. It’s really impressive. I’d love to see even more interesting places.

The festival offered a packed program that included meet-and-greets with international celebrities, question-and-answer sessions, a high-stakes international cosplay competition with a 20 million tenge prize pool, and various gaming tournaments and workshops. This year's event welcomed notable figures such as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from "Game of Thrones," Paul Anderson of "Peaky Blinders" fame, and "One Piece" stars Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar.

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I would really love to come back here, and I would really love to film here.

For several international guests, Comic Con Astana represented their inaugural visit to Kazakhstan. Iñaki Godoy, who portrays Monkey D. Luffy in Netflix's "One Piece" adaptation, expressed his admiration for Astana's unique architecture, specifically mentioning the EXPO's Nur Alem pavilion and the Khan Shatyr. "I would really love to come back here, and I would really love to film here," Godoy stated, suggesting that Kazakhstan's nomadic themes could make it an appealing location for future film productions.

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I was really impressed when we drove in from the airport to the hotel. What I saw outside the window… I honestly thought I’d landed in Los Angeles.

British actor Paul Anderson, recognized for his role as Arthur Shelby in "Peaky Blinders," also shared his positive first impressions, remarking that his drive from the airport to the hotel reminded him of Los Angeles. Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known as Jaime Lannister in "Game of Thrones," echoed similar sentiments, praising Kazakhstan's

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This is my first visit to Kazakhstan, to Astana. I have to say, it’s a very big country. Wonderful food, especially the meat. Today I ate more of it than I have in the last three years.