631 COMPANIES, 34 COUNTRIES AND 8,578 UNIQUE VISITORS: HOW DID KAZBUILD AND AQUATHERM ALMATY 2026 GO?

FROM SEPTEMBER 2 TO 4, 2026, THE 32ND KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL BUILDING AND INTERIORS EXHIBITION KAZBUILD 2026 AND THE 18TH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION FOR DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL HEATING, WATER SUPPLY, SANITARY WARE, AIR CONDITIONING AND VENTILATION EQUIPMENT AQUATHERM ALMATY 2026 WERE HELD AT THE ATAKENT KAZAKHSTAN CENTRE FOR BUSINESS COOPERATION IN ALMATY.

Over the three days, the exhibitions welcomed 8,578 industry professionals, while the business programme brought together 111 speakers across 42 events. The combined exhibition featured 631 companies from 34 countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal Portugal Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The exhibitors’ extensive geographical representation was among the aspects particularly highlighted by industry visitors: “This is my fourth time visiting the exhibition. My impressions are positive: there are many participants from China, and the large number of companies from Uzbekistan was a discovery for me. There are also many of our friends from Russia. Overall, there is genuinely a great deal to see here,” said Evgeny Konnov, ROTORICA.

At KazBuild 2026, 411 companies from 27 countries presented their products and solutions, with 161 exhibitors participating for the first time. Aquatherm Almaty 2026 brought together 220 companies from 20 countries, including 64 first-time exhibitors. National and group exhibitions featured companies from China, Germany, India, Iran, Russia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.

The exhibition pavilions covered a broad range of sectors, including construction equipment, window technologies, engineering systems, and architectural and interior solutions. For industry visitors, the exhibitions offered an opportunity to explore products from manufacturers representing different countries in one place, learn about the latest technologies, conduct negotiations and establish new business contacts.

The business programme formed a major part of KazBuild 2026 and Aquatherm Almaty 2026. Over the three days, the professional agenda addressed changes in construction industry regulations, the development of domestic production, BIM and digitalisation, energy efficiency, architecture, urban planning and modern engineering technologies.

Events held on September 2 included:

The plenary session, “The New Construction Code, Tax Policy and Digital Regulation: Reforms Transforming Kazakhstan’s Industry,” opened the professional discussion. Experts reviewed the initial outcomes of implementing the new Construction Code and discussed changes to construction safety and quality requirements, tax reform, the mandatory adoption of BIM, and the transformation of the design industry.

The Grand Window Forum, which included the industry panel session “Kazakhstan’s Construction Industry: New Market Rules and the Development of Domestic Production.”

The HD Magazine panel session, “Blue-Green Infrastructure in Central Asia: New Markets for Development, Engineering and Investment,” focused on modern approaches to water resource management, nature-based engineering solutions and new sustainable construction standards.

Seminars and workshops organised by the Professional TANU Association and TECHNONICOL, which brought together practical solutions for architects, designers and construction industry professionals.

Events held on September 3 included:

KAZBUILD MATERIALS FORUM 2026, held under the overarching theme “Concrete Products, Aerated Concrete and Industrialisation: Economics, Quality, Technology and the Regulatory Agenda for 2026–2030.” The central discussion, “Kazakhstan’s Concrete and Concrete Products Market: Economics, Regulation, Quality and Industrialisation,” focused on market dynamics, production development, and new quality and certification requirements for construction materials.

The session “Thermal Insulation Materials in Kazakhstan: An Industry Market Overview and Modern Approaches to Improving Energy Efficiency” presented an up-to-date perspective on the segment’s development and modern energy-efficient solutions.

KAZBUILD URBAN FUTURE FORUM 2026 brought together two key discussions: “Cities of the Future in Central Asia: Smart Cities, Sustainable Construction and the New Urban Environment” and “Architecture of the Future: Global Practices, BIM, Parametric Design and AI Solutions.” The discussions focused on the development of modern cities, digital technologies, architecture and new approaches to design. One of the forum’s most notable practical cases was the presentation of the AI-native Alatau City concept. Under this concept, the city’s digital architecture develops in parallel with the city itself, while artificial intelligence is integrated into its governance, infrastructure and economy and used for data analysis, forecasting and decision-making.

The 4th Tekhnar PRO Kazakhstan 2026 Installers’ Championship, a professional competition for specialists in the installation of plumbing systems and equipment.

“Chief Installer,” held as part of the Installer Show by the Okna+ School, continued the practical programme dedicated to the window industry.

The programme concluded on September 4 with:

The Grand Window Forum: MARKETING DAY by the Okna+ School, a professional programme dedicated to marketing and promotion in the window industry.

A Skyform Studio presentation (USA), “Modern Points of Attraction: How Interactive Installations Transform Spaces into Places People Want to Visit.”

A Material Hub presentation, “How Suppliers Can Stop Distributing Material Samples Blindly and Reach Every Designer: Samples as a Sales Tool.”

An Ariston Kazakhstan seminar, “ELCO: Modern Energy-Efficient Heat Generation Solutions,” which concluded the specialised programme of Aquatherm Almaty 2026.

The variety of formats combined strategic industry discussions with practical activities – from debates on new regulations, the future of cities and architectural technologies to demonstrations, workshops and professional competitions. For many industry specialists, attending the exhibitions has already become a professional tradition and an annual opportunity to discover new market players and offerings: “We came to the exhibition from Astana, and this is already our sixth visit. We have our own company, and the exhibition gives us an opportunity to meet new companies and industry professionals and discover new market offerings,” said Bereket Karamirzayev, SANTEKHPROF.

On the final day of KazBuild 2026, new agreements were formalised between representatives of the international and professional communities. IRIUDC – Iranian Urban Development International Company signed memoranda of understanding with companies from the Udmurt Republic: AG Project Group LLC, Kubika Architectural Bureau LLC and Individual Entrepreneur Batalova Ulyana Valeryevna. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed between TANU MEDIA LLP and the Udmurt Branch of the Union of Architects of Russia.

The exhibitions were held with the official support of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Almaty, the trade missions and diplomatic missions of the participating countries, and the Okna+ School.

The Tekhnar Training Centre served as the business partner of Aquatherm Almaty 2026; Bastau Almaty LLP, represented by the Smart X brand, was the official partner of the KazBuild 2026 window technology business programme; and Meesenburg Kazakhstan LLP served as a partner.

The exhibitions were organised by the Kazakhstan exhibition company Iteca and its international partner, ICA Events Group.