Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, has been selected to host the 2026 edition of the Games of the Future, an innovative international phygital sports tournament blending traditional athletic competition with digital gaming.
The announcement was made by Alibek Khasenov, head of the Directorate for the Organization and Conduct of the Games of the Future in Kazakhstan, during the World Phygital Summit 2025 held in Dubai. The event is expected to draw participants from over 100 countries and a large global audience of fans and digital sports enthusiasts.
“We are confident the tournament will be held at the highest level, given Kazakhstan’s extensive experience in organizing major international events,” said Khasenov, expressing optimism about Astana’s preparedness to deliver a world-class event.
Phygital Sports: A New Frontier
The Games of the Future showcase phygital sports, a growing format that merges physical and digital competition — such as combining real-world running or cycling with virtual reality or gaming challenges. This hybrid model is gaining momentum, particularly among younger demographics and esports fans.
The inaugural Games of the Future were held in 2024 in Kazan, Russia, and featured around 2,000 athletes competing across 21 disciplines that fused real-world athleticism with popular video games. The event also attracted global attention with a $10 million prize fund. Kazakhstan fielded competitors in 13 disciplines, demonstrating the country’s early commitment to this emerging sports genre.
A Global Stage
Astana’s selection as host underscores Kazakhstan’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of the evolving global sports landscape. The city has already proven itself capable of organizing major events, and the tournament is likely to boost tourism and digital industry visibility.
The World Phygital Community (WPC), which oversees the tournament’s structure and qualification process, includes members from nearly 100 countries. Local qualifying tournaments in phygital sports disciplines are already underway, with winners earning spots at the 2026 finals in Astana.
Background and Vision
Kazakhstan’s bid to host the event was championed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who attended the 2024 Games and proposed bringing the tournament to Astana. The 2026 edition is anticipated to expand on the success of its predecessor with new disciplines, enhanced fan interactivity, and greater integration of technology in sports entertainment.
With preparations underway, Astana is poised to become a global capital for phygital sports this summer, blending innovation, competition, and culture in what organizers describe as the next evolution of the international sports arena.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said. ...
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage p...
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit....
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beiji...
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beijing's efforts to strengthen ties with Europe at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
The latest AnewZ investigative documentary examines how Emmanuel Macron’s promise to break with France’s old political habits collided with diplomatic setbacks in Africa and legal fallout surrounding figures once close to the Élysée.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that unexploded ordnance remains a deadly threat across Afghanistan, with children accounting for around 80% of victims and about 50 people being killed or injured each month.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed neighbouring Iraq will hold a funeral procession next week for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, as preparations intensify for week-long ceremonies after the 86-year-old was killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids in February.
CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov has inspected security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border as the regional bloc continues a long-term programme to strengthen one of Central Asia's most strategically important frontiers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment