Kanye West concert could boost Almaty economy the way Jennifer Lopez’s did

Almaty’s Mayor’s Office expects American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to have a noticeable impact on the city’s economy. The city’s tourism department noted that during Jennifer Lopez‘s concert, the volume of international bank card transactions rose by around 11% and said it expects a similar effect from Ye’s concert.

In response to Kursiv.media’s inquiry, the mayor’s office said that the exact amount foreign visitors will spend in Almaty can only be assessed after the event. However, the administration expects an increase in spending on accommodation, dining, transport, shopping and other services.

«Experience in organizing such events already confirms their economic impact. During Jennifer Lopez’s concert, for example, the volume of international bank card transactions in Almaty increased by around 11% over a short period, according to Mastercard. A similar effect is expected from Ye’s concert, particularly for the tourism and services sectors,» the tourism department said.

The Mayor’s Office considers Ye’s concert one of the largest events for Almaty’s event tourism in recent years. According to the administration, world-class concerts contribute to higher hotel occupancy, increased demand for transport, restaurants, retail and other services, while also raising the city’s international profile.

According to preliminary estimates, at least 30,000 attendees are expected at the concert. For comparison, Jennifer Lopez‘s concert attracted around 27,000 people, while the Backstreet Boys concert attracted around 30,000 spectators.

The administration also points to the pace of ticket sales as another sign of strong interest. According to the organizers, about half of all available seats were sold on the first day of presales.

Most attendees are expected to come from Astana, Shymkent and other regions of Kazakhstan. Among international visitors, most are expected to come from China, Russia and CIS countries. Fans are also expected from South Korea, the U.S. and across Europe.

At the same time, the administration does not expect a sharp rise in prices across the city. The mayor’s office acknowledged that demand for hotels and short-term rentals typically increases during major international events. However, it believes that the wide range of accommodation options and competition in the market will help keep prices from rising significantly.

Ye’s first major concert in Kazakhstan is scheduled for Aug. 14, 2026, at Almaty Central Stadium. The event is organized by First Media Group. During the first two days of presales, tickets were available exclusively through Freedom SuperApp. They subsequently went on general sale through both Freedom SuperApp and Ticketon.kz.