Kazakhstan’s Regions Reveal New Year Budgets: Spending Ranges from Zero to Hundreds of Millions

As preparations for the New Year begin across Kazakhstan, official data has revealed how much regional budgets are planning to allocate for festive decorations. The spending varies dramatically: some cities rely on old garlands and sponsorships, while others are ready to invest tens or even hundreds of millions. Judging by the responses from local administrations, cost-saving is far from a universal priority.

One of the main regions in the spotlight is Pavlodar Region. The region initially announced a tender worth nearly 800 million tenge, but later clarified that the funds were not related to New Year expenses. Officials explained that the money was intended for operational needs such as sanitation services, machinery, and transportation of structures. The actual festive decoration budget for the region amounts to 50.8 million tenge. Authorities also noted that most installations and lighting elements will be reused.

Some regions are preparing to greet the New Year in a truly “Spartan” manner. Petropavl and Aktau reported that they will not allocate a single tenge: they plan to reuse old decorations or rely on sponsors. Kostanay, on the other hand, has allocated 86 million tenge, most of which is intended for the construction of an ice town. However, unusually warm weather has already raised doubts about the plan: November was the warmest in 84 years, and December temperatures in northern regions remain above normal.

Astana will spend 365 million tenge this year. The capital has distributed the budget among its districts: Baikonur, Saraishyq, Saryarka, and Almaty districts will receive 50 million each; Yesil — 90 million; and Nura — 75 million. It is noted that last year’s expenses were nearly twice as low, partly because many decorations were preserved.

Among the most frugal regions is Turkistan, which allocated only 2.5 million tenge. Kyzylorda will limit itself to 7 million, adding that a significant portion of decorations will come from sponsors or previously purchased structures. In West Kazakhstan Region, the New Year budget totals 11.2 million, covering city decorations and holiday events for children from low-income families.

Several regions fall within the 20–30 million tenge spending range. These include Almaty Region, Atyrau, Aktobe, Ulytau, and Jetisu. Local administrations believe these amounts are sufficient, as most festive installations are already in storage.

Taraz shows noticeably higher spending. The city shared its detailed estimate: 37 million tenge will go toward an LED screen, Christmas tree decorations, costume preparation, stage design, and payment for the production team. Semey will spend around 65 million on concerts and city decorations. Kokshetau has allocated 55.4 million.

Almaty traditionally remains the leader in spending. While the city has not yet disclosed the total amount, district-level responses already hint at the scale. Only the Alatau, Turksib, and Nauryzbay districts reported budgets of 92.3, 200, and 100 million tenge, respectively. If the remaining districts follow similar patterns, the city’s New Year budget may approach 800 million tenge.

Overall, regional spending on celebrations for the year 2026 may amount to roughly 1.5 billion tenge. Some regions prioritize modest decorations and reusing old installations, while others invest in large displays and ice towns. Whether such expenditures are justified amid inflation and budgetary pressure remains a question for public debate.