The fifth international Comic Con Astana 2026 pop culture festival was held in Astana from Aug. 6 to 9, attracting more than 76,000 visitors from over 40 countries during its four-day run.
For the first time, the festival welcomed four international headliners – Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Paul Anderson, Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar. The actors met with fans and took part in Q&A sessions, autograph signings and photo sessions.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, drew particular attention from festivalgoers. Speaking to journalists, the actor shared his impressions of Kazakhstan and joked that he had eaten more meat in one day in Astana than he had in the previous three years.
“The first impression of any country is its people. I have to say that I received a very warm welcome in Kazakhstan. People here are open and friendly. I was also shown photos of Kazakhstan’s landscapes – they are amazing places. Now I definitely have to come back to see them, especially Mangystau,” Coster-Waldau said.
Asked by journalists where Kazakhstan might fit into the geography of Game of Thrones, the actor suggested that the country could serve as a land of diplomacy between powerful neighbors.
“If we think in terms of Game of Thrones, Kazakhstan today is situated between two very powerful neighbors. In the series, it could be between the Lannisters and the land of the Dothraki and serve as a territory of diplomacy. It would be a country that both sides consider their best friend,” the festival headliner said.
British actor Paul Anderson, known for his role as Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, also praised the festival.
“I am who I am. I don’t know how to pretend or put on an act, and I usually speak honestly about my impressions. So I can sincerely say that this is the best Comic Con I’ve ever been to,” Anderson said.
Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar, stars of Netflix’s One Piece, also met with fans and took part in the festival program.
More than 16,000 people attended Comic Con Astana on its opening day, setting a new first-day attendance record in the history of the event.
One of the festival’s main highlights was the international cosplay competition. The judging panel included prominent figures from the cosplay industry, including Kamui Cosplay and Leon Chiro. The competition offered a total prize pool of 20 million tenge.
The festival also featured musical performances, including a concert by South Korean K-pop group Kandis, as well as meetings with bloggers, artists, cosplayers and content creators.
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