March 1, 2026 – The capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, once again became the epicenter of world art. On the first spring day of the year, the stage came alive with the energy of brilliant talents.
A Long-Awaited Return
This festival marked a significant milestone for the region’s cultural life. Fiestalonia last visited Kazakhstan in 2019. Now, 7 years later, Kazakhstan once again hosts this prestigious international talent competition in Astana. The event took place within the magnificent walls of the Al-Farabi Palace of Schoolchildren.
Scale and Nominations
The competition brought together over 300 participants who showcased their mastery across four main categories:
- Choreography
- Vocals
- Instrumental Performance
- Art (Fine Arts, Design, and Architecture)
The creative marathon began early in the morning with an exhibition featuring artists, designers, and architects. The exposition displayed a wide palette of techniques—from classical painting to futuristic architectural models.
Virtual Gallery: You can view the participants’ works and immerse yourself in the exhibition’s atmosphere in our video highlights:
Transparency and Professionalism: The Evaluation System
At Fiestalonia, we place special emphasis on our evaluation system. We strive for the process to be transparent and clear for every contestant.
The “Fiestalonia Kazakhstan” jury is an international community of world-class professionals. A key feature of the competition was the instant scoring system: scores were displayed on a large screen immediately after each performance, making the judging process visible and understandable in real-time.
The Distinguished Jury
Throughout the competition day, the expert commission was led by a prominent figure in the global festival movement:
- David Dzhaparidze (Chairman of the Jury) – President and Founder of the Spanish festival committee Fiestalonia Milenio; Director of the International Fiestalonia Center in London; Member of the jury for the world’s most prestigious competitions.
Choreography Jury
- Yulia Kruglyak – The first Slavic flamenco performer in Spain; a renowned dancer and educator with 30 years of stage experience.
- José María López Santamaría – Graduate of the Higher Professional Conservatory of Dance in Barcelona; artist at the Mecklenburg State Theatre (Germany); artistic director and educator.
- Eugenia Mur – Choreographer and teacher specializing in contemporary and theatrical choreography; graduate of the Institut del Teatre (Barcelona).
Vocals Jury
- Joan Carles Capdevila Torné – Arranger, composer, singer, and musical producer for Gestmusic Endemol television projects (including “Operación Triunfo”).
- Maria Luz Martinez Farias – Accomplished soprano and Doctor of Arts performing on the world’s most prestigious stages; Professor at the University of Barcelona.
- Bernardo Latini – Composer and winner of 16 national prizes in choral composition (Argentina), whose works are published in Austria, Germany, the USA, and Catalonia.
Instrumental Performance Jury
- Joan Carles Capdevila Torné – Arranger, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.
- Josep Soto – Renowned guitarist, composer, and educator who trains musicians worldwide.
- Mario Mariani – Italian avant-garde composer and pianist touring four continents; author of soundtracks for films featured at the Cannes, Venice, New York, and Berlin Film Festivals.
“Fiestalonia Kazakhstan 2026” proved that the passion for international cultural exchange remains stronger than ever. We thank all 300 participants for their courage and talent, and the teachers for their invaluable contribution to the future of the arts.
