Approximately 40,000 people attended the first day of the BaiQymyz-2026 international gastronomic festival in Astana. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing the official website of the capital's akimat.
The festival is held on July 11-12 at the Qazanat Hippodrome. On the first day, guests explored Kazakh cultural traditions, tasted various types of kumis from over 60 producers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Yakutia, attended master classes on cooking national dishes, and visited folk craft exhibitions.
Producers brought 1 ton of shubat and 200,000 liters of kumis specifically for festival participants. Everyone could try the national beverages.
Visitors showed particular interest in the international kumis competition, competitions in national sports — kokpar, baige, audaryspak, kyz kuu, traditional archery, as well as a horse parade, equestrian demonstrations, and other ethno-cultural events.
Kazakh artists and creative groups performed on the main stage. According to the akimat, visitors included not only residents of the capital and regions of Kazakhstan but also foreign tourists. International guests were able to learn about Kazakh traditions and taste national dishes and drinks.
After the first day of the festival, an environmental cleanup took place at the Qazanat Hippodrome. Visitors together with volunteers cleaned the area, collected remaining trash, and tidied up the site.
The akimat noted that the action was a continuation of the festive program and reminded of the importance of caring for the environment. According to participants, such initiatives help maintain cleanliness after mass events and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
BaiQymyz-2026 will continue on July 12. Guests can enjoy tastings of national dishes and drinks, exhibitions, cultural and sports events, equestrian shows, family recreation areas, and concerts by popular Kazakh performers.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that due to the BaiQymyz-2026 festival, the route scheme for bus routes No. 18, No. 37, and No. 303 in Astana was temporarily changed until July 13. During the festival, buses will run to the Qazanat Hippodrome, and on July 11 and 12, their operation was extended until 23:00.