photo: Ramina Ashim, Comic Con Astana press office
As part of Comic Con Astana 2026, Central Asia’s largest contemporary pop culture festival, headline guest Nikolaj Coster-Waldau—the Danish actor best known for portraying Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones—answered the questions from the press representatives. He is also recognized for his roles in Black Hawk Down, Oblivion, and Gods of Egypt.
The actor shared his first impressions of Kazakhstan, joking that he had eaten more meat in just over a day in Astana than he had over the previous three years.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also spoke about visiting Baiterek Monument, where he placed his hand on the famous golden handprint and made a wish.
“You know you’re not supposed to tell anyone what you wished for… But I’ll make an exception. I wished that I’d get to come back here again,” the actor said.
Journalists also asked where Kazakhstan might fit within the geography of Game of Thrones. The actor suggested it would be a place of diplomacy.
“If we’re thinking in Game of Thrones categories, Kazakhstan would probably be kind of in the middle between two very powerful neighbours. So it would kinda be somewhere between the Lannisters and the Dothraki lands, like very diplomatic. And making each side believe that they are their best friends,” the festival headliner said.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also answered questions about his acting career, spoke about his interest in discovering Kazakh cinema, and praised the breathtaking landscapes of the Mangystau region.
This year’s festival features hundreds of events, dozens of special guests, and two major large-scale venues—Barys Arena and Alau Ice Palace.
Over four days, attendees can enjoy appearances by internationally renowned film and television stars, the International Cosplay Contest with a prize pool of 20 million KZT, concerts, K-pop performances, gaming tournaments, workshops, and many other activities.
Joining Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as festival headliners are Paul Anderson, best known for playing Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, along with Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar, stars of Netflix’s One Piece.
Meanwhile, the Alau Stage will host daily amateur cosplay contests for both adults and children, award ceremonies, themed performances, and live entertainment. In addition to the international headliners, the festival welcomes dozens of popular bloggers, artists, cosplayers, and content creators.
Comic Con Astana 2026 runs in Kazakhstan’s capital from August 6 to 9, bringing together fans of film, television, comics, animation, video games, and cosplay.
Over the years, the festival has grown into a recognized international brand, attracting some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars, tens of thousands of visitors, and extensive coverage from international media each year.
Previous headline guests have included Mads Mikkelsen, Andy Serkis, Pilou Asbæk, Scott Adkins, Esai Morales, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Percy Hynes White, and Alexander Kuznetsov.
Today, Comic Con Astana not only shapes the region’s contemporary cultural landscape but also contributes to the development of tourism, the creative economy, entrepreneurship, youth initiatives, and Kazakhstan’s international profile.
