IT Agenda for May: Key Events in the World and Central Eurasia

GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus Kazakhstan 2026
The region's largest international technology event and part of the global GITEX ecosystem. The forum will bring together industry leaders, startups, investors, and government bodies to discuss the development of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cloud technologies, FinTech, cybersecurity, and DeepTech.

When: May 4-5
Where: Almaty, KZDC "Atakent"

Plug and Play Uzbekistan EXPO 2026
A major technology event bringing together startups, corporations, and investors to discuss the future of Enterprise Tech, FinTech, AI, and creative industries. The program includes pitches from international startups, corporate innovation case studies, and networking with key ecosystem players. It is a platform for finding partnerships, investments, and new ideas.

When: May 6 at 16:30
Where: Tashkent, "Turkiston" Art Palace

Lovable Founder Series
An informal session on vibe coding, where participants can create, experiment with ideas, and work on their own projects in a relaxed atmosphere. The event takes the form of a hack session without pitches or pressure, focusing on knowledge exchange, live communication, and rapid prototyping.

When: May 7
Where: Tashkent, C-Space Startup Center

Smart Capital, Smart Growth: From Investment to Impact
An educational session dedicated to raising investment and sustainable startup growth. Speaker Samir Hajibeyli, a venture investor from Caucasus Ventures, will break down the key stages of the investment journey: from fundraising to effective capital management, and will also discuss the balance between product, team, and growth.

When: May 8
Where: Baku, Peerstack Academy

AppSecFest Kazakhstan
The largest application security conference in Central Asia, dedicated to modern approaches to protecting digital products. Participants will discuss AppSec practices, DevSecOps, code security, vulnerability management, and infrastructure protection, as well as examine real-world cases and tools from leading industry experts.

When: May 15
Where: Almaty, KazNU

GameFest 2026
One of the largest events in Central Asia in the field of game development and animation, bringing together developers, studios, investors, and international experts. The program includes conferences, pitch sessions, exhibitions, and cosplay, as well as discussions on the future of digital entertainment, animation, and gaming technologies. Participants will be able to present projects, find partners, and get acquainted with global industry trends.

When: May 15-16
Where: Tashkent

Global Tech Weekend Tashkent 2026
A three-day technology event featuring over 120 speakers, thousands of participants, and dozens of parallel events across the city. The event focuses on startups, investments, creative industries, and technology trends, connecting participants from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and global markets.

When: May 15-17
Where: Tashkent

Product Management Conference Tashkent
The largest conference in Uzbekistan dedicated to product management and the development of product thinking. The event brings together product managers, entrepreneurs, and IT specialists to discuss product creation strategies, user engagement, analytics, growth, and scaling. The program features talks from international and local experts, practical case studies, and networking.

When: May 16
Where: Tashkent, 28 Makhtumkuli Street

Open Talks: AI Startups That Won't Survive
An honest meeting with venture capitalists about the real state of AI startups in the region and market prospects. Murat Abdrakhmanov and Yelzhan Kusekbayev will discuss why many AI projects in Central Asia will not survive until 2027, which models are no longer working, and what investors are really looking at. They will also analyze real deals, founder requirements for attracting investment, and key mistakes made by startups in the early stages.

When: May 19 at 14:00
Where: Tashkent, U-enter

PROFIT Telecom Day
An industry conference on technologies and trends in Kazakhstan's telecom industry. Participants will discuss the development of network infrastructure, the implementation of AI in telecom, operator digitalization, cybersecurity issues, and new business models in the communications market.

When: May 22
Where: Almaty, InterContinental

Solana Summit Kazakhstan
A technology summit dedicated to the development of Web3, blockchain infrastructure, and the future of digital financial systems. The event will bring together founders, developers, investors, and institutional players to discuss asset tokenization, stablecoins, and new models of the digital economy.

When: May 22
Where: Almaty

BeeTech Conf
A technology conference in Kazakhstan bringing together developers, engineers, and IT leaders to discuss current trends in development and digital products. The focus is on application architecture, backend and frontend development, DevOps, data approaches, and practical cases of creating scalable systems.

When: May 23
Where: Almaty, NARXOZ University