The First Day of the Book Festival KitapFest-2026 Took Place in Almaty

Today in Almaty, the first day of one of the country’s largest cultural events – the book festival KitapFest-2026 – was held. On the eve of the Nauryz holiday, this large-scale event brought together thousands of residents and visitors, transforming Arbat into a vibrant hub for literature lovers and meaningful cultural exchange.

This year, more than 40 publishing houses presented their books, offering visitors the opportunity to purchase new titles at affordable prices. As part of the book fair, thousands of copies found their readers, once again confirming the strong public interest in reading.

The festival was ceremoniously opened with a blessing by writer, holder of the “Parasat” Order, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, and State Prize laureate Kadyrbek Segizbayev:

“Congratulations to everyone on the Nauryz holiday! This bright day symbolizes renewal, kindness, and creation. Holding a book festival at such a time is especially meaningful – it contributes to the spiritual development of society, strengthens cultural values, and inspires young people to read. I wish everyone well-being, prosperity, and success,” the writer noted in his speech.

As part of the festival, creative meetings were held with well-known poets and writers, including Bayakhmet Zhumabayuly, Bigeldy Gabdullin, Bakytzhan Bukarbay, Maraltai Ybyrayev, Baigali Yesenaliyev, Didar Kosylbekov, Miras Kesebayev, and Bolatbek Tolepbergen. These sessions featured book presentations and lively discussions with readers.

One of the most attractive venues at the festival was the Smart Yurt, which harmoniously combined national traditions with modern technology. In this unique digital space, visitors were introduced to a self-service station as well as an impressive exhibition of rare and valuable books. Guests were also able to observe the process of restoring antique editions and witness the “second life” of historical books.

In addition, the yurt offered visitors a chance to take a virtual journey into the world of books using VR headsets, while a special AI photo booth allowed guests to capture memorable moments from the festival.

This venue also hosted the first presentation of the Almaty Libraries mobile application, which opens up new opportunities for readers. Now, library services are even more accessible – users can take advantage of them anytime by downloading the mobile app.

Special attention at the festival was given to national and traditional arts. Guests participated in workshops on traditional crafts, where they explored pottery techniques and learned about the intricacies of creating Kazakh jewelry and decorative items.

The festive atmosphere was enhanced by “live” characters from literary works, who engaged visitors and fully immersed them in the world of books.

The festival continued with a vibrant concert program – artists performed dynamic numbers, traditional songs were heard, and the sound of the dombra added a distinctive national flavor and emotional depth to the event.

“This is my third visit to KitapFest. Every year I find interesting books here at great prices. It’s especially convenient that all publishers are gathered in one place – you can walk around and quickly choose the books you need,” shared one of the festival’s regular attendees.

KitapFest-2026 will continue on March 22, once again opening its doors to everyone. From 10:00 to 18:00, guests can look forward to new experiences, inspiration, and a lively connection with the world of literature.