The regional and major city akimats of Kazakhstan have announced the amounts they plan to allocate for New Year celebrations. The expenditure varies considerably, from a few million to hundreds of millions of tenge.
According to Ulysmedia.kz, information emerged in November that the Pavlodar akimat planned to spend 791.9 million tenge on the preparation and decoration of the city. This sum appeared in three lots, which involved the installation and maintenance of festive structures, transportation of equipment, as well as the work of special machinery and personnel.
Later, the akimat of the Pavlodar region denied this data and stated that the contracts in question related solely to the city's economic needs.
"This contract provides for the use of specialised equipment during city-wide clean-up days, sanitary cleaning, transportation of structures, materials, and other necessary loads. The equipment is used only for carrying out economic and organisational work in Pavlodar," explained the state agency employees.
According to available information, the region will allocate less than 51 million tenge for New Year celebrations. The akimat reported that in three cities and ten districts of the region, 50.8 million tenge has been set aside for festive decoration. This budget includes the installation of Christmas trees, decorative lighting, small architectural forms, and other elements. All festive equipment from previous years, according to akimat representatives, is in usable condition and will be reused. Funds will be directed towards installation, dismantling, transportation, and maintenance of the structures.
According to preliminary data, several regions plan to celebrate the New Year rather modestly. In Petropavlovsk, it was reported that they do not plan to spend budget funds: the city still has decorations from previous years, and any missing elements are to be covered by sponsors.
In Karaganda, the amount of expenditure for the New Year has not been disclosed. It is reported that the city has a three-year contract for decoration for all holidays.
Frugality has also been declared in Turkistan. According to city representatives, they plan to allocate 2.5 million tenge for festive concerts. There is no data on spending on lighting, Christmas trees, or additional decorations.
In the Kyzylorda region, the local budget has allocated 7.1 million tenge. Plans include the installation of five Christmas trees and thirty small architectural forms. Authorities warned that additional spending may occur through sponsors.
In the centre of the West Kazakhstan Region, expenditure will amount to about 11.2 million tenge. As reported, this sum includes the organisation of a fireworks display, New Year's decoration of the city and squares, installation of Christmas trees, festive concerts, theatrical performances and mass programmes, as well as New Year's morning parties for children from low-income families and children with disabilities on behalf of the akim of Uralsk.
It has become known that the Aktobe, Atyrau, and Almaty regions, as well as the Ulytau and Zhetysu regions, plan to keep costs within approximately 20–30 million tenge.
In Taraz, the akimat provided one of the most detailed estimates — about 37 million tenge. According to state agency representatives, expenses include the rental of an LED screen and equipment, decoration of the New Year tree, services of a choreographer and director, production of theatrical costumes, and stage design. Authorities clarified that they hope to attract sponsors to cover part of the costs.
In Semey, they plan to allocate 10 million tenge for the concert programme and 55 million tenge for the festive decoration of the city. In Kokshetau, they stated they would keep within 55.4 million tenge.
In Kostanay, they plan to spend 86 million tenge, with the majority of the sum intended for the creation of an ice town. However, due to the late winter, its construction may prove impossible.
In Astana, according to preliminary data, 365 million tenge will be allocated for the celebration. The funds will be distributed among the districts: Baikonyr, Saraishyk, Saryarka, and Almaty will receive 50 million tenge each, Yesil — 90 million, and Nura — 75 million tenge. Incidentally, for New Year 2026, Astana has set aside almost twice as little money as for New Year 2025.
In Oskemen, the amount will be about 140 million tenge. Half will go towards decorating the city, the other half towards the festive programme.
In Shymkent, according to akimat representatives, they plan to spend 166 million tenge. The funds will be distributed between the culture department, events in the districts, and New Year's decoration of the city.
Almaty will be the leader in total expenditure. Although the city has not disclosed the overall estimate, it is known that the Alatau district allocated 100 million tenge, the Turksib district — 200 million, the Nauryzbai district — 92.3 million tenge, and Medeu — 160 million tenge. The akimat stated that the final figures will be known after the tender procedures are completed.
In total, the combined expenditure of Kazakhstan's regions on New Year festivities could approach 1.5 billion tenge. However, this estimate is preliminary, as information from several regions is incomplete or requires clarification.
For context, earlier the culture department of Petropavlovsk requested 2.5 million tenge for the filming and editing of a video about the lighting ceremony of the city's main Christmas tree in honour of New Year celebrations.
The request sparked heated debate at a meeting of the city maslikhat. Deputies noted that the estimate presented by the department was clearly inflated.
Later, the Department of Housing and Communal Services, Passenger Transport and Highways of Oskemen announced a tender for the New Year's decoration of streets and public spaces. The cost of the work was estimated at 71.5 million tenge.