IT Events of the Week, September 7-13: Astana Finance Days, Central Asia Fintech Summit, and Cyber Steppe 2026

Cyber Nomad Fest CTF
A three-stage CTF will bring together cybersecurity specialists and enthusiasts. The first stage — Jeopardy CTF — will take place in a classic individual online format and last for 24 hours, with participation available through registration. Participants who pass the selection will receive an invitation to a private Telegram group, where they will form teams for the next stage — incident investigation in a SIEM system on September 14 — and the final stage — an offline Attack/Defense competition — will be held on September 22. The total prize fund for the competition is 850,000 KGS.

When: September 7
Where: online

Apple Event 2026
Apple will hold its annual autumn presentation under the slogan Surprise and Shine, during which the company will introduce new products and updates to its ecosystem. This will be the first presentation under the leadership of new CEO John Turnus, who replaced Tim Cook in this position on September 1.

When: September 9
Where: online — broadcast on the Apple website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube

Astana Finance Days 2026
The ninth flagship financial forum of the International Financial Center "Astana" will take place under the theme Delivering Impact. Capital in Action and will bring together investors, bankers, regulators, and representatives of the FinTech industry from the Eurasian region. In 2025, the forum gathered more than 5,500 participants from 82 countries, including asset managers overseeing $1.5 trillion.

When: September 9–10
Where: Astana, Mangilik El Ave., 55/18

Cyber Steppe 2026
A conference on cybersecurity and digital hygiene will bring together the government, business, experts, startups, and citizens to discuss cyber threats, data protection, social engineering, and digital resilience. The event is held with the support of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, and over 2,000 participants are expected.

When: September 10–11
Where: Astana, Alem.ai Center

AI Steppe Tech Hack
Steppe Tech Lab will host a one-day hackathon focused on creating AI solutions. Teams of two to five people will have eight hours to develop a prototype, after which they will present their projects at an evening pitch session. The total prize fund will be 1,000,000 KZT: 500,000 KZT for first place, 300,000 KZT for second place, and 200,000 KZT for third place.

When: September 11
Where: Astana, Alem.ai Center

Central Asia Fintech Summit 2026
The main financial technology forum of Central Asia will bring together bankers, regulators, and founders of FinTech startups. Over 4,000 in-person participants and another 2,000 online attendees are expected, with more than 120 speakers and experts. The forum will be opened by Timur Suleimenov, Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

When: September 11
Where: Almaty, Tselinny Center of Modern Culture