Astana, October 10, 2026 – The Europe Today: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are scheduled to visit Kazakhstan from October 11 to 14, with a programme comprising 14 activities across Astana and Almaty aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, healthcare, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and culture.
According to Kazakhstan’s Akorda, the Belgian royal couple will be accompanied by a 110-member delegation comprising ministers, business leaders, university rectors and journalists. The visit is expected to provide fresh impetus to relations between the two countries and expand cooperation across several strategic sectors.
The official programme will begin on October 12 with a welcoming ceremony at Akorda, followed by expanded-format talks and an official lunch. The royal couple will also visit the National Centre for Children’s Rehabilitation in Astana, where they will learn about programmes involving speech therapy, Montessori education and robotics. The day will conclude with a state dinner.
On October 13, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will visit the National Museum of Kazakhstan and attend the opening of an exhibition dedicated to Belgian painter James Ensor, highlighting cultural exchange between the two countries.
The royal couple will subsequently participate in a roundtable discussion on critical minerals at Nazarbayev University, focusing on opportunities for cooperation in the sector. They will also attend the opening of the Kazakh-Belgian Business Council, which is expected to facilitate business engagement and explore new investment opportunities.
Artificial intelligence and academic cooperation will feature prominently in the programme. At the Alem.ai International Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the royal couple will visit TUMO Astana and meet students. Ghent University will donate a telescope to the centre for student research, while a forum of university rectors will examine the use of artificial intelligence in research and education. The day’s activities in Astana will conclude with a Belgian reception.
On October 14, the delegation will travel to Almaty to visit the Institute of Nuclear Physics, which already maintains cooperation with two Belgian companies and a Belgian university. The programme will also include cultural engagements, culminating in a visit to the Almaty Museum of Arts, where a contemporary dance performance by a choreographer trained in Belgium will be presented.
The royal couple and their delegation are scheduled to depart for Belgium following the conclusion of the programme in Almaty.
The state visit reflects the growing scope of Kazakhstan-Belgium relations, with both countries seeking to strengthen economic ties and explore new avenues of cooperation in innovation, scientific research, healthcare, logistics and sustainable development.
