Astana hosted a joint ceremony for the Tumar and Urker awards as part of Astana Media Week 2026. This year, the two national prizes were combined for the first time under the Qazaqstan Media Awards brand. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The competition received applications from more than 600 journalists across 12 categories. Winners were selected by an independent jury comprising journalists, media industry representatives and sector experts.
Main category winners
Veronika Vishnevskaya from Channel One Eurasia was named Best TV Presenter. The award for Best Documentary Project went to "4739" by 24KZ, while Best Television Material was won by "Qarkyndy qurylys" on Qazaqstan TV channel.
Best Social Project was recognized as "Pravda v detalyakh" on Jibek Joly, and Best TV Series went to "Auyl bapkeri" on Astana TV. In the Best Information and Analytical Program category, "Novosti" on Channel 7 won.
The Best Journalist of the Year award went to Zhanar Serdalina. Best Radio Project was "Oituma" on Qazaq Radiosy, and Best Media Project was Tengrinews, Tengri TV.
Material of the Year and analytics
Material of the Year was awarded to Miramgul Rakhatkyzy's article "Zhasandy intellekt: adamzat zhana dauirge ayaq basty" published in the Aktobe newspaper. Laura Tusupbekova from Kazakhstanskaya Pravda received the award for Best Analytical Material for her publication "Moya DNK — nashe bogatstvo."
For the first time, the award included a category for the best project in artificial intelligence. In the new nomination "Future of Journalism," Altainews Media Centre won with its project "AI-ZHAN."
Special prizes marking the 30th anniversary were awarded to the Presidential Television and Radio Complex and Informbyuro.
Minister's remarks
Minister of Culture and Information Arman Kyrykbaev noted at the ceremony that professional journalism and dedicated specialists will remain in demand despite the development of technology and AI.
"I am confident that state policy regarding the media sphere will remain unchanged in the future," he emphasized, speaking about support for the industry.
The Tumar and Urker awards were established in 2017. The first recognizes achievements in domestic television, while the second honors print, radio and online journalism.