Fans from Tashkent, Bishkek, and Moscow are traveling to Enrique Iglesias' concert in Kazakhstan.

Fans from Tashkent, Bishkek, and Moscow are heading to Enrique Iglesias's concert in Kazakhstan.

Enrique Iglesias's upcoming autumn concerts in Kazakhstan, which will be his first performance in the country, are becoming not just a musical event but also a reason to travel. Fans from Central Asia, Russia, and other countries are planning to travel to Astana and Almaty to hear the hits of one of the most recognizable artists live.

For some fans, the distance to Kazakhstan has become not an obstacle, but part of the adventure.

"As a child, I was absolutely in love with Enrique. I remember seeing one of his videos and thinking he was the most handsome man in the world. Then I searched for his photos online, saved them to my phone, rewatched his videos, and, of course, knew all the most popular songs. Now I'm 24, and I laugh a little at that little me. But when I found out Enrique would be performing in Kazakhstan, my reaction was pretty much the same: I have to go there immediately! So you could say it was my childhood crush that brought me to Astana,” Odina Nazarova from Tashkent says with a smile.

Some fans pack up for the trip in groups.

“In our family, we’ve always listened to Iglesias, but everyone had their own favorites. My parents loved Julio Iglesias, and I’ve loved Enrique since childhood. I’ve remembered his songs for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always dreamed of hearing them live one day. Last year, my friends and I flew to Abu Dhabi specifically for his concert—and it was so amazing that once wasn’t enough. When news broke about the Almaty concert, one of us wrote in the group chat: ‘Girls, maybe we should go?’ A couple of days later, everyone had tickets. Now we’ll see him a second time, but much closer to home. Honestly, I'm a little envious of the people of Kazakhstan—you don't have to fly anywhere to see Enrique live: he'll perform right here! So I can only say one thing: don't miss this opportunity. We're traveling to another country for him!" noted Ruzali Tokmergenova-Shimarova from Bishkek.

For fans from Moscow, the concert also offers an opportunity to combine their favorite music with travel.

"I already attended Enrique's concert many years ago, and I still remember the moment when the whole audience sang 'Hero' with him. It was an incredible feeling. I thought then that if I ever get the chance to see him again, I'll definitely go. When I saw Kazakhstan on the schedule, I decided not to wait for Enrique to perform somewhere closer. I've only been to Almaty in transit, so now I'm finally eager to get to know the city properly. It's a great opportunity to combine a short trip with a concert by an artist I've been listening to for years. I've already bought my ticket and am flying out of Moscow. "So if anyone in Kazakhstan is still considering whether to go to the concert—guys, seriously? Enrique is coming to you!" says Denis Domrachev from Moscow, who plans to attend Enrique Iglesias's performance in Almaty.

Everyone will have their own reason for going to the concert, but in September, they will all end up in one place: Kazakhstan. On September 3, the artist will perform at the Astana Arena in Astana, and on September 5, at the Central Stadium in Almaty.

Enrique Iglesias is one of the most successful artists in the history of global pop music. According to Billboard, he is the greatest Latin American artist of all time. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 180 million records, and his hits "Hero," "Bailamos," "Escape," and "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" have topped the global charts for years and become the soundtrack for generations of listeners.