Purpose of the Competition “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes” is an online art competition for ethnic Kazakh children living abroad. The competition aims to encourage participants to creatively express their vision of Kazakhstan, their love for their homeland, its historical and cultural heritage, natural beauty, national values, and aspirations for the future. The main objectives of the competition are: To strengthen the spiritual connection of ethnic Kazakh children living abroad with Kazakhstan; To promote the culture and national values of Kazakhstan; To develop the creative abilities of young artists; To identify and support talented ethnic Kazakh children; To foster love and appreciation for their historical homeland. Organization and Conduct of the Competition Ethnic Kazakh children aged 12–17 living abroad are eligible to participate. To confirm Kazakh ethnicity and foreign citizenship, participants must submit a copy of their passport together with their artwork. Submitted artwork must correspond to the theme “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes.” When submitting an entry, participants must provide the following: Personal information (full name, citizenship, school and grade, contact number); A self-introduction video of no more than 2 minutes explaining themselves and their artwork; A video recording of the drawing process, no longer than 3 minutes, to confirm authorship of the artwork, as well as several additional artworks created by the participant. Entries will be accepted until August 28, 2026, via email at [email protected]. III. Artwork Requirements The competition accepts digital versions of hand-drawn artworks created on paper. Participants may use any traditional art materials and tools, including: Pencil; Colored pencils; Markers; Watercolor paints; Gouache; Oil paints; Pastels; Charcoal; Acrylic paints; Gel pens; Other artistic drawing materials. Artwork may cover the following themes: Nature of Kazakhstan; Historical and cultural monuments; National customs and traditions; Everyday life of the Kazakh people; National holidays and celebrations; Landmarks of Kazakhstan; Visions and aspirations for the future of Kazakhstan. Each participant may submit multiple artworks. Only original works created by the participant will be accepted. Artwork created or edited using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted. By submitting an artwork, participants grant the organizer permission to display and publish it on official websites, social media platforms, and exhibitions. Entries must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, PNG, or PDF format. Evaluation Criteria Relevance to the Theme The extent to which the artwork fully and meaningfully reflects the theme “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes.” Creativity The originality of the idea, imagination, and creative approach demonstrated by the participant. Artistic Skill The quality of drawing technique, composition, color harmony, proportions, and overall execution. National Content The effectiveness of depicting Kazakhstan’s culture, history, nature, and national values. Emotional Impact The artwork’s ability to convey the author’s thoughts and emotions and to engage the viewer. Competition Timeline Creative works will be accepted from June 17 to August 28, 2026. The jury will determine the winners within 30 calendar days after the submission deadline. Competition Results and Awards Based on the jury’s decision, 10 winners will be selected. Winners will receive First-, Second-, and Third-Degree Diplomas, as well as special prizes: 1st Place – Laptop; 2nd Place – Tablet; 3rd Place – Smartwatch. Encouragement Prize: Bestemshe traditional board game. The best artworks will be published on the organizers’ official information resources and featured in an online exhibition. In addition, the 10 participants whose works are recognized as the best may be required to send the original artwork to the Otandastar Qory (NJSC) at their own expense.
From April 22 to 26, the IX International Book Exhibition and Fair Astana Eurasian Book Fair 2026 will be held at the Presidential Center in the capital. It is one of the largest cultural and educational events in Central Asia, according to the official website of the city administration. The event is organized by Foliant Publishing House with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Akimat of Astana. Approximately 80 companies representing the publishing, printing, bookselling, and academic sectors will take part in the fair. Around half of them are Kazakhstani organizations, while some 40 companies are expected from Russia, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Spain, China, Iran, Belarus, Portugal, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom. The five-day program will feature a wide range of cultural and business events, including book presentations, meetings with authors, autograph sessions, and special masterclasses at the children’s activity zone. Among the highlights are presentations of the following publications: «Turkish Cuisine» (published with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey), Bekarys Shoibekov’s collection of aitys «Bekarys — The Golden Voice of Aitys», Marzhan Yershu’s poem «A Solitary Hand», «Yeldos Smetov. Endurance. Faith. Victory» from the «Contemporaries» series, Yerlan Kozhabayev’s photo album «Kazakh Ornaments», Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novel «The Witcher», Ularbek Daley’s historical novel «Batu Khan», «The Ownerless Shadow» by Alisher Rakhat, «The Journey of Hope» by Spanish writer Javier Moro, «For Whom the Bell Tolls» by Ernest Hemingway, «A Poem-Woman» by Azerbaijani poet Rasmia Sabir, Baiyt Kabanuly’s «Mongol Poetry», «The Tears of the White Zhaiyk» by Nursultan Myktybay, as well as the album books «Turkestan — Eternal and Ever New» and «Dimash Qudaibergen. Infinite Music». On April 23, in celebration of the National Book Day, an official award ceremony will be held for the winners of the national competition Ulttyq Kitap, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan. The official opening ceremony of the exhibition will take place on April 22 at 11:00, with the participation of government and public figures, prominent writers, and foreign ambassadors.
On April 23-24, 2026, the International Craft Festival «Taraz — City of Craftsmen» will be held at the historical and ethnocultural complex «Kone Taraz» in the city of Taraz. This is not just a festival, but a major cultural platform that combines traditions and modernity, contributing to the revival of national heritage and the development of craft art. The festival will gather over 100 craftsmen from foreign countries (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan), as well as from neighboring regions of Kazakhstan (Almaty and Turkestan). Local artisans will also present their work. To create a special atmosphere and inspire the guests, a rich program is planned: a scientific and practical conference on the topic «Taraz — City of Craftsmen. Traditional and Modern Crafts», an exhibition of handcrafted items, workshops, and an exhibition of young artisans and artists titled «My World: Fantasy and Reality». Additionally, the International Fashion Week «ASPARA FASHION WEEK» will take place as part of the festival, where national styles and modern trends will blend harmoniously. The musical program «Dombyra Party», which will be held next to the felt item included in the Guinness World Records, will give the guests an atmosphere of live traditional music. Festival guests will have the opportunity to discover the secrets of craft art, see a showcase of national clothing, and enjoy a gala concert featuring pop stars. Moreover, participants will be able to purchase the items they like and take part in tours of the historical and cultural landmarks of the city.
Тараз, Жамбылская область, Казахстан The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) was initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023. At the Astana International Forum in May 2025, it was announced that the Summit’s agenda would be expanded from a climate-focused framework to a broader environmental scope. Read more: https://res2026.kz/about
