Kazakhstan has announced the large-scale program AI MONTH 2026, dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital technologies, which starts on September 23. This program will bring together representatives of the technology community, business, educational institutions, startups, international experts, and regional initiatives from across the country.
The central event of the program will be the international technology forum AI & Digital Bridge 2026, which will take place in Astana from October 1 to 3. Due to the expansion in the number and geography of artificial intelligence initiatives, AI Week has been transformed into AI MONTH.
The program begins on September 23 with the HackAlem AI hackathon, supported by OpenAI. Teams of three participants can develop solutions based on agent AI for ten key sectors of the Kazakhstani economy, mandatorily using Codex and OpenAI API. The hackathon will provide a prize fund of $1.1 million USD, including cash prizes, API tokens, and OpenAI resources. Winners of HackAlem AI will be awarded on the main stage of AI & Digital Bridge 2026; developers, students, young specialists, startups, and IT enthusiasts can participate.
On September 29–30 in Astana, the international cybersecurity conference KazHackStan will be held. More than a hundred regional and international speakers will discuss topics such as DevSecOps, OSINT, data protection, malware analysis, and new cyber threats related to the development of AI.
During the same period, the international platform C5+1 will take place, focusing on cooperation between Central Asian countries and the United States in the field of artificial intelligence. Participants will examine issues of AI regulation, infrastructure development, human resource training, and international technological partnerships.
The investment agenda will continue with the LP summit for investors in LP and venture capital. It will gather institutional investors, venture and sovereign funds, corporations, and family offices.
Another focus area will be AI and MedTech Day, focused on the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Experts, doctors, developers, and startups will discuss the possibilities of AI in diagnostics and healthcare management, as well as the development of new MedTech solutions.
The program also includes a humanoid robotics hackathon organized around Unitree robots. Teams will program the Unitree G1 robots provided by the organizers and solve practical tasks without using simulators.
From October 1 to 3, the Astana AI Film Festival will take place in Astana, dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence in film production. The festival will present screenings of AI-assisted films, as well as professional discussions and masterclasses on applying technologies in directing, visual style, storytelling, character creation, special effects, and voice acting.
AI MONTH will also feature international robotics competitions such as FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League, a UNICEF forecasting session on the impact of AI on the future of children and youth, and technology events for businesses.
The main international venue of the program remains AI & Digital Bridge 2026. The forum will attract leaders of technology companies, business founders, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs, startups, and representatives of international organizations. The main focus will be on artificial intelligence, technological entrepreneurship, investment, human capital development, and the digital economy.
On October 1, a high-level meeting will be held with the participation of high-ranking government officials, international delegations, and representatives of the technology industry. Participation in the events of this day will be by special invitation.
The open part of the forum will take place on October 2–3. Confirmed speakers include NVIDIA Vice President Rev LeBaradian, Network School founder Balaji Srinivasan, Sinovation Ventures founder Kai-Fu Lee, E-Space CEO and founder Greg Weiler, General Atlantic Chairman and CEO William Ford, Dream co-founder and president Sebastian Kurz, Oxford Insights co-founder and CEO Richard Stirling, Financial Times correspondent Eleonora Olcott, Higgsfield AI co-founder and CTO Erzat Dulat, Crimson Education founder Jamie Bitton, MA7 Ventures founder Murat Abdrakhmanov, Kazakhtelecom Board Chairman Bagdat Mussin, and Choco Holding co-founder Ramil Mukhoryapov.
AI MONTH events will not only take place in Astana; throughout the month, events dedicated to AI and digital technologies will be organized in technology centers across Kazakhstan. The program will include seminars, bootcamps, hackathons, career fairs, pitch sessions, and startup battles. Students, teachers, developers, entrepreneurs, startup teams, and specialists interested in studying and practically applying AI can participate. Current information on dates, venues, and registration for regional events is available on the Astana Hub platform.
The program will conclude with the Grand Final of the alem.ai battle, an AI competition organized by Astana Hub. The final will bring together leading teams and young talents from Kazakhstan and Central Asia, who will present their projects in four categories.
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is organized by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, Astana Hub, and the Astana Akimat. Partners of AI MONTH include Freedom Bank, Kaspi.kz, Samruk-Kazyna, Halyk Bank, and Beeline Kazakhstan. Firebird AI KZ Ltd. is the official partner of HackAlem AI. Tickets for the open program of AI & Digital Bridge 2026, taking place on October 2–3, are available on the forum's official website.