Balkhash gathered 75,000 guests at the main tourist event of the summer

75 thousand guests, thousands of lights over the lake, a record-breaking burger and music until late at night. Balkhash Tour Fest – 2026 turned the Balkhash coast into a summer recreation center and once again confirmed the status of one of the largest tourist events in Kazakhstan.

For two days, the lake shore became a great playground for sports, creativity, family recreation and vivid impressions. About 35,000 people attended the festival on the first day alone. The guests came not only from different regions of Kazakhstan, but also from abroad.

One of the most spectacular events was the show of the famous Kazakh strongman Sergei Tsyrulnikov, dedicated to the legendary Kazakh warriors. However, the main surprise awaited the guests in the evening.

For the first time in the history of Balkhash, a large-scale drone show was held over the lake. 500 drones took to the sky and created light paintings telling about Kazakhstan and Balkhash.

But the festival was remembered not only for the show in the sky.

For two days, dozens of zones worked simultaneously on the site, where both adults and children could find something to do.

The guests of the festival witnessed a gastronomic record.

The largest kazyburger in Kazakhstan weighing 86.4 kg was prepared on the stage. The editor-in-chief of the Book of Records of Kazakhstan was invited to officially record the achievement.

Sports fans were united by the mass Cuprum Swim. About 300 participants from different regions of the country came to the start of the one- and three-kilometer distances.

The amateurs tested their strength in open water conditions, while the professionals competed for awards. For the safety of athletes, rescuers were on duty throughout the entire route.

The two-day dance tournament brought together young talents not only from Kazakhstan, but also from Russia. The participants competed for the main prize – a ticket to the international dance camp FRESH DANCE CAMP in Shanghai. Following the results of the battle, the Grand Prix was awarded to Rufina Lu, a dancer from Astana, who conquered the jury with her performance technique and artistry.

The festival ended with a big concert with the participation of popular Kazakhstani performers. Thousands of viewers sang along to their favorite hits, and the evening culminated with performances by AYAU and festival headliner 6ELLUCCI.

The final point was set by a festive fireworks that lit up the night sky over Balkhash.

However, the history of the festival does not end there. In the near future, the organizers will begin preparations for the Balkhash Tour Fest – 2027.

In addition, the festival site itself will not be empty. It has been decided that discos, concerts, exhibitions, family celebrations and other mass events will be held here on weekends throughout the summer. This will make it possible to diversify the leisure time of residents and make tourists' holidays even more intense.

Balkhash today relies not only on beach holidays. During the festival, a pavilion of tour operators was open, where new routes through the Balkhash region were presented. One of them is dedicated to turang groves, a unique natural wealth of the region.

And the Balkhash Tour Fest itself has long been more than a summer holiday. Today it is part of the systematic work on the development of tourism in the Balkhash region.