Kazakhstan’s First National Kymyz Festival Set to Debut in Nur-Sultan

On July 19-20, the Kazanat Hippodrome in Nur-Sultan will host BaiQymyz - Baptalgan Kymyz, Kazakhstan’s first national cuisine gastrofestival dedicated to kymyz, the traditional fermented mare’s milk drink.

The event will feature an international scientific-practical conference titled “Mare’s Milk and Kymyz - the Basis of Health and Longevity of Nomads”, focusing on the medicinal and nutritional properties of kymyz, The Caspian Post repots via Kazakh media.

Experts including gastroenterologists, nutritionists, microbiologists, ethnographers, and kymyz producers from Kazakhstan and abroad will participate in discussions on kymyz’s therapeutic benefits.

Approximately 50 kymyz producers from across the country will compete for the Best Kymyz Award, with a prize fund of 45 million tenge (about $85,757). Visitors will enjoy tastings, horse breed exhibitions, and ethno-cultural performances throughout the festival.

The event aims to revive Kazakhstan’s traditional food culture and promote kymyz as both a health product and cultural symbol, with aspirations to develop BaiQymyz into a globally recognized festival akin to Oktoberfest.