COUNTDOWN TO THE GAMES OF THE FUTURE 2026 ASTANA BEGINS: DATES, DISCIPLINES AND MORE REVEALED

World's biggest phygital sports tournament set to be held in Kazakhstan capital from 18 July to 1 August 2026 .

The tournament is expected to welcome around 1,500 athletes, with events in 13 phygital disciplines hosted across the city.

Athletes and clubs will compete for share of $10 million prize fund.

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Phygital International, promoter and rights holder of the Games of the Future (GOTF), has officially confirmed Astana as the host city for the 2026 edition, taking place from 18July to 1 August 2026.

The announcement was made during an official meeting with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov of the Republic of Kazakhstan, followed by a press conference led by the event's key representatives including Serik Zharasbayev, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International; and Alibek Khassenov, President of Kazsportinvest JSC.

Renowned as the ultimate fusion of physical athleticism and digital gaming, the Games of the Future 2026 will transform Astana into a hub of elite competition and cutting-edge innovation. The 2026 edition will feature 13 disciplines, including fan-favorites like Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, and Phygital Shooter, while also showcasing the phygital versions for Hockey, Fighting (MMA and Boxing) and more. In each discipline, athletes first compete in a digital version of the sport to later switch to its physical counterpart; final results are determined by the combined performance across both stages.

A $10 million prize fund is set to raise the stakes at GOTF 2026, drawing global attention and attracting top-tier talent. With around 1,500 participants expected to compete across multiple venues in Astana, the tournament marks a major milestone for the growing phygital movement. To further amplify its impact and highlight Kazakhstan's leadership in sport-tech and digital innovation, the city will host the Games of the Future City, a celebration of innovation featuring fan zones, interactive exhibitions, and community-driven tech activations.

"The phygital format creates exciting new opportunities to engage talented youth in sports, aligning with the evolving expectations of the modern sports community. These innovative competition formats are shaping a dynamic and relevant agenda at the intersection of sports and technology"  emphasized Serik Zharasbayev, Vice Minister of Tourism of Kazakhstan.

"Astana is a city that embodies the spirit of the future. With its world-class infrastructure, proven track record in hosting global events, and deep investment in youth and technology, Astana is the perfect stage to help shape the future of phygital sport on the global stage," commented Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International .

Kazakhstan was selected as the host for 2026 by the Phygital International Expert Committee following a competitive international bidding process in late 2024. Kazsportinvest JSC - whose track record includes the Asian Winter Games 2011, 2017 Winter Universiade, and World Nomad Games. Astana 2024 - has been appointed to organize and deliver the event, bringing deep expertise in producing high-profile sporting competitions.

"This tournament has tremendous international potential and stands as a flagship event in the emerging world of phygital sports. Technology is rapidly reshaping the future of sport, and the Games of the Future represents a unique opportunity for us to contribute meaningfully to its evolution and help generate global excitement around this exciting new frontier of competition , " said Alibek Khassenov, President of Kazsportinvest JSC.

While the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana are still a year away, anticipation continues to build as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the 2025 edition from December 18 to 23. Following the successful debut of the tournament in 2024, Abu Dhabi is ready to deliver another unparalleled global showcase of phygital sports. The event will blend the best of phygital sports and technological innovation, bringing together thousands of athletes and fans from the global phygital community, paving the way for Astana to carry the momentum forward in 2026.

About Phygital International (PI):

Phygital International is the promoter of phygital sports globally and is focused on innovating and redefining sports. It is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city. 

For further information please visit: https://Phygitalinternational.com 

About the Games of the Future (GOFT):

The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in Abu Dhabi while the Games of the Future 2026, will be held in Astana.

For more information please visit: https://gofuture.games/

About the World Phygital Community (WPC):

The World Phygital Community (WPC) is a non-profit, international organization that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital members globally. It is responsible for providing guardianship of the rules and regulations of phygital sport and hosting the qualifying rankings tournament for the Games of the Future: https://worldphygital.org/ 

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

COUNTDOWN TO THE GAMES OF THE FUTURE 2026 ASTANA BEGINS: DATES, DISCIPLINES AND MORE REVEALED

COUNTDOWN TO THE GAMES OF THE FUTURE 2026 ASTANA BEGINS: DATES, DISCIPLINES AND MORE REVEALED

SHANGHAI, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, is showcasing its full portfolio of intelligent robotics solutions at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), held from July 17–20 in Shanghai. A key highlight of this year's exhibition is the offline global debut of the PUDU D7, Pudu's next-generation semi-humanoid robot. In tandem with its exhibition highlights, Pudu Robotics was also honored with the 36Kr "Most Investor-Attractive AI & Embodied Intelligence Enterprise" Award, recognizing the company's growing influence in the embodied AI sector and continued confidence from the investment community.

Full Product Matrix on Display: Demonstrating Multi-Scenario Capabilities

Pudu's comprehensive presentation at WAIC 2026 showcased its complete technical and product layout, spanning service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied intelligence.

The PUDU D5 quadruped robot demonstrates advanced terrain adaptability and autonomous navigation across an on-site obstacle course mimicking sand, gravel, steps, and slopes, simulating autonomous inspections in complex environments such as power substations and industrial parks. Additionally, the D5 performed high-speed "drifting" demonstrations at the booth, reaching peak speeds of up to 5 m/s and showcasing industry-leading mobility and responsiveness.

Making its global offline public debut, the PUDU D7 engaged visitors with several immersive and interactive live experiences. Attendees posed for photos with the D7, instantly receiving unique snapshots taken directly from a "robotics perspective." The robot also demonstrated advanced multi-robot coordination by autonomously walking and guiding the PUDU D5 quadruped around the booth while seamlessly avoiding pedestrian traffic, vividly illustrating collaborative workflows between different robotic form factors.

Pudu is also exhibiting its mature commercial robotics portfolio, including the BellaBot service delivery robot, the PUDU T300 industrial delivery robot, and the PUDU MT1 Max and PUDU CC1 Pro commercial cleaning robots. Together, these products highlight Pudu's proven deployments across hospitality, retail, F&B, manufacturing, warehousing, and other industries.

Winning the "Most Investor-Attractive Enterprise" Award Amid Sustained Capital Traction

The "Most Investor-Attractive Enterprise" award from 36Kr arrives alongside sustained backing from major global institutional investors. In April 2026, Pudu Robotics completed a new financing round of nearly USD 150 million, bringing its valuation to more than USD 1.5 billion. This brings Pudu's cumulative funding to more than USD 300 million.

This strong capital interest is supported by concrete commercial performance. According to the "2025 Global Embodied Intelligence and Commercial Service Robotics Independent Market Research Report" released by Frost & Sullivan, Pudu Robotics accounts for 25% and 23% of the global commercial service robotics market in terms of revenue and shipments respectively, ranking No. 1 worldwide in both categories. Furthermore, Pudu Robotics has maintained a year-over-year revenue growth rate exceeding 100%, with international markets accounting for more than 80% of total revenue for consecutive years. While the broader Embodied AI industry remains in early exploratory phases, Pudu has approached a positive EBITDA, achieving large-scale commercial viability ahead of the market.

From Product Export to Ecosystem Integration: A Blueprint for Global Expansion

According to the Research Report on Chinese Enterprises' Overseas Expansion from 2025 to 2026 published by the 36Kr Research Institute, Pudu Robotics was featured as a primary benchmark case study for Embodied AI. The report attributes Pudu's international success to its systematic combination of technological innovation, product capabilities, and localized global operation. Analysts noted that Pudu has successfully transitioned from exporting products to exporting global brand equity and integrated robotics ecosystems, establishing a core reference blueprint for hard-tech global expansion.

By deploying versatile product forms that span specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid forms, Pudu Robotics continues to focus on integrating Embodied AI directly into real-world environments—transforming Physical AI from a technical concept into a practical productivity partner.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics, a global leader in the commercial service robotics sector, is dedicated to empowering easier work and better lives through AI and robotics, with a vision of building a global intelligent robotics infrastructure that serves 10 billion people worldwide.

Pudu Robotics has developed key core technologies and components, including robotic joint modules and motion controllers, and has filed more than 1,900 patent applications worldwide. Built on three core technologies—Embodied Navigation, Embodied Manipulation, and Embodied Interaction—Pudu Robotics has pioneered a "One Brain, Multiple Embodiments" architecture, establishing a comprehensive product portfolio that includes specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots.

Currently, Pudu offers four major product lines: service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery and general embodied AI. Its solutions are widely deployed across industries such as retail, hospitality, manufacturing, real estate and property services, healthcare, entertainment and sport, education, and public services.

To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 units globally, with a presence in more than 85 countries and regions.

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Pudu Robotics Showcases Full Product Portfolio at WAIC 2026, Winning the "Most Investor-Attractive Enterprise" Award