Ticket sales for Colombian singer Shakira's show — her first concert in Central Asia — began on October 1 and will take place at Bishkek Arena. The global star will perform in the Kyrgyz capital on October 18, according to infohub.kz.
Social media users had expected tickets to sell out within minutes, especially the cheapest ones. However, as of 13:00, the 12,000 som tickets had indeed sold out, but several sections priced at 13,500 som were still available. Overall, about half of the stadium remains unsold, according to the state ticket sales website.
On Threads, some users advise waiting and not buying tickets — since Shakira's visit to Almaty was announced in April. As confirmation, they cite the words of Malik Khasenov, a producer at Astana Concert. When asked on social media whether it was worth waiting for Shakira's performance in Kazakhstan and not buying tickets, the man replied: "Wait."
However, many Kazakhstanis still plan to travel to Bishkek.
"Alright, Almaty people, general assembly! Shakira in Bishkek?! Are you serious?! We've already created a WhatsApp chat, we're pooling money for gas and booking hotels! It's not far at all — you zip through Kordai, grab a hot samsa on the way, and there you are singing 'Whenever, Wherever' at the top of your lungs along with the whole stadium! Bishkek, get ready for the Almaty landing force, we're on our way!"
"So you understand the level of competition for Shakira tickets. My mom got a cast put on today — she fell yesterday — but she and her friends bought tickets for the 13,500 section, saying 'it'll heal by the 18th,'" users write.
Kyrgyzstan residents note that the ticket price is not affordable for an average salary earner in the country. True, they are rightly told that an artist of such caliber, when planning a concert, focuses on several CIS countries, not just one. Recall that Bishkek Arena has a capacity of 51,000 spectators.
Kazakh concert organizers for major stars will likely find it hard to compete with Kyrgyzstan, since it is much easier to recoup the cost of bringing a world-class artist to a large venue. In that case, ticket prices for audiences will also be cheaper. Moreover, Bishkek is relatively easy to reach from Almaty — so for audiences who previously traveled to Kazakhstan's southern capital, getting to Kyrgyzstan will not be a problem.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle, citing Yeset Baitasov, head of the Sports Facilities Directorate LLP, reported that the Colombian celebrity would come to Almaty in 2026.