From October 5 to 9, 2026, Yessenov University in Aktau hosted the VIII International Student Caspian Games 2026. The large-scale sporting event brought together students from Kazakhstan and abroad.
The international event aimed to strengthen cooperation between universities of the Caspian states, develop student sport and expand cultural and educational ties among young people. Students from universities of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Turkmenistan took part.
The main goal of the Caspian Games 2026 was to promote a healthy lifestyle among young people, develop mass and student sport, strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between youth of different countries, and create a favourable environment for sporting, cultural and academic cooperation.
The history of the Caspian Games dates back to 2000. Held within the activities of the Association of Universities and Research Centres of the Caspian States, the student games have become an important international tradition that strengthens humanitarian ties and cooperation between countries.
The previous, VII Caspian Games universiade took place in Astrakhan in 2024, bringing together students, teachers and members of the academic community of the Caspian states. The competitions were held in a spirit of friendship, mutual respect and the pursuit of high sporting results. Participants not only competed in various sports but also got to know the host country’s culture, built friendly and professional ties, and discussed prospects for joint educational and research initiatives.
The VIII International Student Caspian Games 2026 in Aktau continued this tradition. Young athletes gathered at the city’s sports venues showed strong preparation, team unity, perseverance and the will to win.
International student games are especially important for developing youth cooperation. Sporting contests not only let participants show their abilities and sharpen their skills but also foster intercultural dialogue, the exchange of experience, and the principles of fair competition, mutual respect and team unity.
Over five days, participants competed in 10 sports: basketball, volleyball, futsal, athletics, swimming, boxing, karate-do, sambo, chess and e-sports. Aktau’s sports venues hosted intense matches and exciting contests in which athletes showed strong preparation, skill, perseverance and the will to win.
Following the VIII International Student Caspian Games 2026, the overall team places were distributed as follows:
“The Caspian Games are not only about sport and medals. Above all, they are about friendship, mutual respect and genuine communication between the young people of our countries.”
— Ye.T. Nurmaganbet, Acting Rector of the University
The winners and medallists received well-deserved awards for their high sporting results.
Hosting the international student games strengthens Kazakhstan’s role as a platform for supporting youth initiatives, expanding international educational ties and developing cooperation in sport. Yessenov University played a key role in organising the event, creating an environment that brought together talented students from different countries.
