Where to celebrate Capital City Day: a guide to the holiday weekend in Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent

Astana Guide: Concerts, Festivals, and Sports over the Weekend

The Akimat announced that the Capital City Day festive program will span nearly two weeks, featuring approximately 200 events—ranging from sporting competitions to major open-air concerts.

July 4

• At 09:00, the Kids Run for participants aged 6 to 15 will kick off at the Central Park ski and roller track (pre-registration required online).
• At 18:00, the Sana Sport complex skate park will host Urban Fest, a street sports festival featuring skateboarding, BMX, rollerblading, and scootering competitions.

Throughout the day, the Museum of Arts will host the "Merekelik Sayabaq" festival, featuring workshops, national games, and interactive activities. The Rakhmadiyev State Academic Philharmonic will once again premiere the modern ballet performance ALEM — "Astana, I Love You," while the Capital Circus will present a festive circus program.

July 5

• At 08:00, the Saryarqa Run mass race for anyone over 16 will start at the waterfront near the Yryskeldi Qazhy Mosque.
• At 17:00, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation will host "Asyl Mura," a traditional music concert featuring renowned artists.

Also on this day, the capital's amphitheater will host a concert for National Dombra Day. A festival of performances and street theater will parade from the amphitheater to the city square, the "Merekelik Sayabaq" festival will continue at Central Park, and the Capital Circus awaits residents and visitors with a festive program.

July 6

• At 10:00, the "Zhas Kyran" sports competitions in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Qazaq Kuresi, and judo will begin at Triathlon Park.
• At 11:00, the "Astana Saqasy" asyk atu tournament will start at Lovers' Park (Park Lyubvi).
• At 12:00, the capital's House of Friendship will host the "Onermen Nurlangan – Asqaq Astana" festival featuring creative groups.
• At 16:00, the "Tolagay" strongman tournament will take place on the city square in front of the Astana Akimat.
• The evening's highlights include two simultaneous large-scale open-air concerts featuring stars of the Kazakh pop scene. Both start at 18:00: one at the square near the "Qazaq Eli" monument and another at the "Astana Arena" grounds.

July 7

• At 19:00, the "Zhaydarman" youth festival will be held at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.
• At 19:00, the "Astana – Arman Qala" concert will take place at the amphitheater, performed by soloists from the Capital Philharmonic.

July 8

• At 15:00, the National Academic Library will host a meeting with renowned writers and poets at the "Qalamger Ustakhanasy" literary platform.
• At 19:00, the Rakhmadiyev State Academic Philharmonic Concert Hall will host "Samgau," a musical evening dedicated to the work of composer Bauyrzhan Makaev.

July 11–12

• Starting at 09:00, the "BaiQymyz – Baptalgan Qymyz" international gastronomic festival of national dishes will buzz for two days at the Kazanat Hippodrome, featuring producers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Yakutia.

Additionally, on July 12, the Astana Opera will host the "Don Carlos" international festival and evenings of classical music. Simultaneously, other capital venues will feature a joint concert by Toregali Toreali and Makpal Zhunusova, a performance by the "Zhigitter" group, and a new comedy program by the "Shanshar" theater.

Photo: depositphotos.com

What to Do in Almaty: Plays, Stand-up, and Open-air Cinema

July 4

• At 12:00, the Total Theater (114 Shevchenko St.) will stage "Junior and Karlson." Ticketed entry.
• At 19:00, the ARTishok Theater (40 Gogol St.) will perform "The Tin Drum." Ticketed entry.
• At 20:00, a "Retro Disco" will take place at Muzkafe (117 Abay Ave.). Ticketed entry.
• At 20:00, The Jazz Colours concert will be held at Rixos Almaty (506/99 Seifullin Ave.). Ticketed entry.
• At 21:30, the Punch Stand-Up Club (35a Kairbekov St.) will host the "Top Stand-Up" show. Entry by reservation.

July 5

• At 20:00, the "Women's Stand-Up: Best Jokes (by Stand Up Camp)" will take place at Coffee House Grain (97 Kurmangazy St.). Ticketed entry.
• At 20:00, the Bunker Art Shelter will host the play "The Handmaid's Tale." Ticketed entry.
• At 4:30 PM, the Punch Stand-Up Club (35a Kairbekov Street) will host a group screening of the "Death Note" anime series featuring comedians and the audience.
• Starting from 11:00 AM, guided tours are available at the Museum of Ice Cream and Sweets (66 Zhibek Zholy Avenue). Tickets are required for entry.

July 6

• At 7:00 PM, the RingoStar traveling circus (141/7 Kenzhetaev Street) will present its "Ice and Fire" show under the big top.
• Starting at 7:00 PM, Open Cinema Almaty (58/1 Zhandosov Street) will host an outdoor evening screening featuring four films: 6:00 PM – "What a Drama!", 7:45 PM – "The Hangover Part II", 9:40 PM – "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", and at 12:30 AM – "Insidious: Chapter 2" (2013, 1h 45m).
• From 12:00 PM, the Catharsis multimedia art gallery (122a Abylai Khan Avenue) will host the interactive exhibition "Feeling the Elements." Tickets are required for entry.

Photo: depositphotos.com

What to see in Shymkent: Theater and a KPL football match

July 4

• At 7:00 PM, the Razrabotka Theater (1/1 Sairamskaya Street) will stage the play "Life After Death." Tickets are required for entry.
• At 7:00 PM, the Zhastar Theater (9 Kazybek Bi Street) will perform "Hamlet." Tickets are required for entry.

July 5

• At 8:00 PM, the Kazhymukan Munaitpasov Central Stadium will host a Kazakhstan Premier League (KPL) football match between Ordabasy and Ulytau. Tickets are required for entry.

Photo: depositphotos.com

Notably, in 2026, Capital Day on July 6 falls on a Monday, meaning Kazakhstanis will enjoy a three-day weekend. With a five-day work week, July will have 22 working days and 9 days off; for those on a six-day week, there will be 26 working days and 5 days off.