From 19 to 21 May 2026, the international exhibition IMEX Frankfurt 2026 was held in Frankfurt am Main. The event is one of the largest professional platforms in the field of business tourism, meetings and the events industry.
This year, the exhibition brought together around 3,000 companies and more than 15,000 participants from 150 countries.
Kazakhstan capital Astana took part in the event together with Kazakhstani companies Empire Travel Qazaqstan, Kompas and SkyWay. At the international platform, the metropolis presented its wide range of opportunities in the field of business and event tourism, including its modern infrastructure, hotel capacity, transport accessibility and conditions for hosting international events of various levels.
Astana already has practical experience in hosting major international events. Over the years, the city has hosted the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, the World Congress of the Walter E. Dandy Neurosurgical Society, the XV Congress of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), the international PGL tournament, the World Nomad Games, Comic Con Astana, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, as well as other congresses, forums, sports and cultural events.
During the exhibition, the Kazakhstani delegation held more than 150 meetings with representatives of international businesses, professional associations and industry organizations.
In addition, a meeting was held with the Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Frankfurt am Main. As part of the business program, negotiations were held with the Indian company JK Cement and the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund. Following the meetings, the parties are considering the possibility of organizing corporate outbound events in Astana.
The Brazilian company Exqape also expressed interest in the capital and is considering Astana as a new tourist destination for audiences from Brazil. In addition, following negotiations with Travelhouse, one of the largest tour operators in Cyprus, agreements were reached regarding the planned arrival of the first corporate incentive groups via the new direct Larnaca–Astana flight.
A separate result of participation was the signing of a memorandum with the organizers of the World Breaking Classic, the world breaking championship, which this year will be held in Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The organizers are currently considering Astana as a potential venue for one of the largest international breaking events in 2028. The event is expected to bring together more than 1,000 participants from 30 countries.
The promotion of Astana on international industry platforms creates additional opportunities for the development of inbound tourism, the establishment of new business contacts and the strengthening of the capital’s image as one of the prominent centers of business and event tourism in the region.
