Five Arenas. One Future. Astana Is Getting Ready

The countdown to the Games of the Future 2026 has officially started.

This summer, the spotlights and the eyes of the world will land in Astana, where elite clubs, gamers, and athletes from all over the world will compete across digital battlegrounds and physical arenas. But before the first whistle blows or the first controller clicks, there is something else worth exploring.

The… stages.

Five world-class sports venues across the city of Astana will transform into the beating heart of the Games of the Future 2026 (GOTF 2026). Each one bringing its own history, atmosphere, energy, and identity to the competition.

Let’s learn more about the places that will host the GOTF 2026, and the future of sport will unfold.

Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace

Some arenas carry history but the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace carries the spirit of a champion.

Opened in 2019 and later named after Kazakhstan’s legendary Olympic and World Champion wrestler Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, this striking complex has quickly become one of Astana’s premier venues for international competition. From wrestling and judo to karate, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts, the palace was designed to host the very best.

The architecture itself tells a story. The building’s triangular shape symbolizes a soaring golden eagle powerful national symbol representing strength, freedom, and ambition.

Inside, the scale is just as impressive. The venue features a 5,000 seat arena, modern training halls, a fitness center, media facilities, and even its own hotel for athletes and teams. The arena floor can transform depending on the event switching from wrestling mats to boxing rings, basketball courts, or concert stages within hours.

Impressive, don’t you think so?

Alau Ice Palace

If phygital sport had a natural habitat for speed, it would look a lot like the Alau Ice Palace.

Opened ahead of the 2011 Asian Winter Games, this futuristic arena quickly became one of the most respected speed skating venues in the world and even ranked No.1 globally by the Dutch AD Sportwereld publication.

With a capacity of around 7,500 spectators the indoor dome allows the venue to manage climate conditions with extreme precision, creating the ideal environment for elite competition.

But Alau is far more than a speed skating arena. Over the years it has hosted World Championships in speed skating and judo, international ice racing events, and multiple winter sport disciplines, including ice hockey, short track, curling, and figure skating.

This summer, however, the ice will… melt because Games of The Future 2026 are going to be… hot!

Barys Arena

Another landmark and masterpiece of Astana’s modern sports infrastructure is definitely the Barys Arena. Opened as a multifunctional sports complex, the arena was designed to host a wide range of international competitions and big events. With seating for more than 11,500 spectators and a total area of approximately 86,000 square meters, it is one of the largest indoor sports venues in Kazakhstan. At its core lies the main 60 × 26 meter ice rink, home to the city’s professional hockey club, Barys Astana.

True to its multifunctional design, Barys Arena can quickly transform to host a variety of disciplines beyond ice hockey. The complex includes a large ice arena, a secondary ice rink, an Olympic size swimming pool, and a dedicated diving pool, allowing it to accommodate almost all types of events from figure skating to major concerts, forums, and cultural gatherings.

With its modern facilities, Barys Arena has become one of country’s premier venues for large international events an arena built to host both elite sport and spectacular entertainment on the same stage.

Athletics Sports Complex “Qazaqstan”

If sports had a laboratory for speed, it would look a lot like the Qazaqstan Athletics Sports Complex.

Built to full World Athletics (IAAF) international standards, this masterpiece is one of Astana’s premier arenas for elite competition. Inside, athletes compete on a 200-meter indoor running track, alongside an 8-lane, 60-meter sprint straight, surrounded by professional training halls, warm-up areas, and facilities designed for athletes, media, and fans alike.

But the complex is well known not only for it’s facilities, it is also about design.

Inspired by crystal formations and Cubist geometry, the building appears as a striking multi-faceted structure. Its sharp lines and illuminated metal panels reflect movement and precision.

With seating for nearly 7,000 spectators, the venue regularly hosts national and international competitions and has become a central hub for developing the next generation of Kazakh athletes.

And this summer, when the Games of the Future 2026 arrive in Astana, the complex will once again transform into a stage which can bring the future into the present.

Beeline Arena

Right on the banks of the Ishim River, next to Astana’s Central Park, stands one of the city’s most recognizable sports landmarks: The Beeline Arena.

Originally built in 1999 within the Central Park complex and later expanded, the venue operated for many years as the Astana National Tennis Center before being renamed Beeline Arena in 2022. Recognized as the Asian National Tennis Center, the facility has grown into one of Kazakhstan’s leading multi-sport venues.

With 24 indoor and outdoor courts with hard and clay surfaces, and seating for around 2,500 spectators, it regularly hosts national tournaments, international competitions, and training programs for the next generation of athletes.

But Beeline Arena is way more than a competition venue. It’s a hub of sporting life, the place which host from youth academies and elite training sessions to major international events. Through the years the arena has become a place where talent develops and competition thrives.

Its international reputation was further reinforced in March 2026, when the facility received Gold Level Recognition from the International Tennis Federation, confirming its status as a world-class venue for global events.

This summer, the atmosphere will shift once again as Games of the Future 2026 arrives in Astana ad will transform Beeline Arena into a stage where digital skill and physical performance collide in true phygital fashion.

When the Games of the Future arrive in Astana this summer, these arenas will not just host competitions. They will host the next chapter of global sport.

And the final countdown has already begun.

Astana is ready. Are you ready?