EuroFest 2026: A Celebration of Culture, Music and Unity

For one day, the Gashyktar park in the center of Astana transformed into a journey across Europe, where visitors explored the traditions of European countries, enjoyed national cuisine, and participated in interactive and family-friendly entertainment.

A special highlight of the festival was the educational quest launched from the Global Gateway hub - the European strategy aimed at strengthening international partnerships and cooperation across key sectors. Participants visited EU-funded project stands and learned more about cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan in the areas of transport connectivity, water management, climate action, digitalisation, education and sustainable development.

EUDELKZ

The festival's programme showcased vibrant performances, including Spanish flamenco, French musical acts, and Polish dances, while the stands offered engaging information about tourist destinations in different countries, educational opportunities, and a variety of food and beverages ranging from coffee to paella, as well as football-related activities, skincare products, books, T-shirts, scarves, and souvenirs.

17 EU Member States were present this year: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Aleška Simkić, EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, noted that EuroFest 2026 has become a well-established tradition and a symbol of the strong partnership between the European Union and Kazakhstan: "We are delighted to celebrate Europe Day once again in the heart of Astana, bringing people together through culture, music, culinary specialties and common projects. EuroFest has become a symbol of openness, mutual respect and strong cooperation between the European Union, its Member States and Kazakhstan. The event brought thousands of people, who showed great interest in exploring the new or get to know more about Europe. Both, adults and children, through interactive games and in a relaxed atmosphere, were able to learn about the languages, the traditions and the plans of Europe in Kazakhstan."

EUDELKZ

EuroFest 2026 also carried an important charitable mission. Funds raised with the participation of EU Member States' Embassies and festival partners were directed to support a local charitable organisation and initiatives aimed at empowering young people in Kazakhstan. This reflects the core spirit of EuroFest 2026 - solidarity, unity and support for communities through joint initiatives.