AI Month 2026 in Kazakhstan: what will happen, where to participate, and what opportunities will be available for startups

AI Month 2026 kicks off on September 23 and will last for a month. The main events will take place in Astana, while the regional program will unfold at technology hub venues across Kazakhstan.

Key dates:

HackAlem AI: Hackathon with Prizes and Resources Worth $1.1 Million

AI Month will open with HackAlem AI powered by OpenAI on September 23. This is an international hackathon where teams of up to three people will create agent-based AI solutions for 10 key sectors of Kazakhstan's economy.

The main requirement is that participants must use Codex and the OpenAI API when developing their solutions.

The total prize pool and technological resources for HackAlem AI will amount to $1.1 million. This includes cash prizes, API tokens, and OpenAI technological resources that teams can use to develop and launch their own products.

The hackathon is designed for developers, students, young professionals, startups, and IT enthusiasts. During the competition, participants will be able to go from idea to a working AI solution.

Winners will be awarded on the main stage of AI & Digital Bridge 2026.

AI & Digital Bridge 2026: The Main Event of AI Month

The centerpiece of the month-long program will be the international technology forum AI & Digital Bridge 2026, taking place in Astana from October 1 to 3.

The forum will bring together technology companies, investors, startup founders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and representatives of international organizations. The main topics of the program are artificial intelligence, technology entrepreneurship, investment, human capital, and the development of the digital economy.

On October 1, a special high-level program will take place with the participation of top government officials, international delegations, and leaders of the technology industry. Participation in the events of this day is by special invitation only.

On October 2 and 3, the open program of the forum will take place. Tickets for these days are already available on the official website digitalbridge.ai.

KazHackStan and AI Security

KazHackStan will take place in Astana on September 29-30 — an international cybersecurity conference.

More than 100 regional and international experts will discuss DevSecOps, OSINT, data protection, malware analysis, and new cyber threats associated with the development of artificial intelligence.

For AI startups, this topic is particularly relevant: the more solutions use autonomous systems and AI agents, the higher the requirements for data protection, infrastructure, and the security of the models themselves.

C5+1: AI and Cooperation Between Central Asia and the US

On the same days, an international platform C5+1 will take place in Astana, dedicated to the cooperation of Central Asian countries and the US in the field of artificial intelligence.

Participants will discuss AI regulation, the development of technological infrastructure, personnel training, and international cooperation.

For Kazakhstan and other countries in the region, this is an opportunity to discuss AI not only as a business and startup direction, but also as part of international technology policy.

LP Summit: Where Startups Meet Investors

The investment part of the program will continue with LP Summit — the first summit in Eurasia for LP and VC investors.

Institutional investors, venture and sovereign funds, corporations, and family offices will meet at the venue. The focus is on the development of the venture ecosystem and new investment opportunities.

For startups, such platforms are important primarily for the opportunity to meet investors and understand which projects and technologies are currently of interest to them.

AI and Medicine

A separate track of AI Month will be dedicated to healthcare.

At AI and MedTech Day, doctors, developers, experts, and startup representatives will discuss the application of artificial intelligence in diagnostics and healthcare management.

Participants will also work on new MedTech solutions. This direction combines technological and medical expertise and shows how AI goes beyond traditional IT.

AI and Humanoid Robots

Another practical format of AI Month is the humanoid robotics hackathon Unitree.

Teams will program real humanoid robots Unitree G1, provided by the organizers, and solve practical tasks. Development will take place without the use of simulators.

For participants, this is an opportunity to gain practical experience working with physical AI systems and robotics.

Astana AI Film Festival

AI Month will also go beyond the traditional technology agenda.

The Astana AI Film Festival will take place from October 1 to 3 — an international festival dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.

The program will include screenings of films created with the use of AI, professional discussions, and workshops. Participants will discuss how AI is changing directing, visual style, storytelling, character creation, special effects, and voice acting.

Thus, AI Month will cover not only the development of models and AI products, but also the application of technology in creative industries.

What Will Take Place in the Regions of Kazakhstan

AI Month will not be limited to Astana. Throughout the month, events will take place at regional technology hubs across Kazakhstan.

Schoolchildren, students, teachers, developers, entrepreneurs, startup teams, and specialists who want to study and apply artificial intelligence will be able to join.

The regional program gives participants from different cities the opportunity to acquire new skills, develop their own solutions, and present projects to the professional community.

Current dates, venues, and registration conditions are published on the Astana Hub platform.

What Opportunities Does AI Month Offer Startups

For founders and teams, AI Month can become several entry points into the ecosystem at once.

Create a product. HackAlem AI will allow the development of an AI solution using Codex and the OpenAI API and provide access to technological resources.

Find a team. Hackathons and regional events will bring together developers, students, specialists, and entrepreneurs.

Show the project to investors. LP Summit and AI & Digital Bridge will gather venture investors, funds, corporations, and entrepreneurs.

Get international contacts. The forum will bring together participants from different countries and representatives of global technology companies.

Test the idea in practice. AI Month includes not only conferences, but also practical formats — from hackathons to bootcamps and pitch sessions.

Find new markets and partners. The international program of the forum and C5+1 will create opportunities for technological cooperation beyond Kazakhstan.

What Else Will Take Place Within AI Month

The program also includes international robotics competitions FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League, a strategic foresight session by UNICEF on the impact of AI on the future of children and youth, as well as specialized technology events for business.

The month-long program will conclude with the Grand Final alem.ai Battle — the final of the AI competition organized by Astana Hub.

The final will bring together the strongest teams and young talents from Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Participants will present their developments in four categories.

AI Month 2026: Where to Register

The main events of AI Month will take place in Astana, however, the program will cover technology hubs across Kazakhstan. Registration for the October 2-3 program of AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is open. Tickets are available on the official forum website: digitalbridge.ai. Participation conditions, dates, and venues for regional events are published on the Astana Hub platform.