The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan presented the results of cultural activities in the Pavlodar and Kostanay regions, as well as the city of Astana, for the first half of 2026.
Among the key results, the upgrade of the regions' cultural infrastructure was noted. More than 8,500 events took place in the Pavlodar region during the first half of the year. New cultural facilities are being built in the villages of Michurino and Algabas, and community centers in three other villages are undergoing renovations. The Zhusupbek Aimauytov Theater and the Isa Baizakov Philharmonic are being equipped with new equipment and musical instruments.
In Astana, over 9,000 events were attended by approximately 1.8 million people in the first six months. Repair and restoration work on the "Astana Zhuldyzy" monument continues, a positive conclusion has been received for the major renovation project of the Zhastar Theater, and documentation is being developed for the renovation of the Capital Circus. The capital's library network is also expanding: 12 buildings have been modernized and seven new libraries have opened.
Five cultural facilities have been built in the Kostanay region, and the Arkalyk Palace of Culture has been restored. Four professional theaters have staged 552 performances, and the regional philharmonic has given 125 concerts. The refurbishment of the local history museum, the reconstruction of the Kostanay Gallery, and the revival of the Sherter ensemble continue. Of the 332,000 museum items, over 142,000 have been digitized.
Along with the results, issues related to the renovation of rural cultural institutions, the digitalization of museum and archival collections, archaeological research, and the preservation of heritage sites were discussed. The use of soundtracks at concerts, the expansion of Kazakh-language film screenings, and the inclusion of works by Kazakh authors in theatrical repertoires were also discussed. In the second half of the year, Astana will host the international Shabyt and Nurzhamal Usenbayeva Vocal Arts Competitions, as well as the TeatrALL Festival. Museum, theater, concert, and infrastructure projects will continue in the regions.