Borderland Music Festival 2026 returns for its biggest edition yet

BT
Jul 1
2 min read

KUCHING, 1 July 2026: The annual Borderland Music Festival will be making its return to Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching for the 4th edition on September 11 and 12, 2026, promising its biggest and most ambitious festival to date.

This was announced earlier today by the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a press conference in Kuching.

Since its debut in 2023, the Borderland Music Festival has grown into Borneo’s biggest EDM festival - a platform that proudly represents Sarawak in the global electronic dance music scene.

This year’s international lineup will be led by global superstars KSHMR (USA), Ben Nicky (UK) and Blasterjaxx (Netherlands) alongside Arcando (Netherlands), DNA [Mister Aloy & JayJax (Indonesia)], Juelz (Canada) and RAMENGVRL featuring Indahkus, Dia and Kenz (Indonesia), together with over 40 artists from different regions.

Festival-goers can expect an entirely new stage design this year, as well as bigger production and more powerful special effects than ever before. For the first time ever, the Borderland Music Festival will introduce cultural workshops, inspired by the success and legacy of the iconic Rainforest World Music Festival, encouraging young people to reconnect with their roots and appreciate the rich traditions of Sarawak and Borneo. The festival will also feature a larger selection of cultural arts & crafts, offered at special affordable prices as part of an initiative to preserve and promote local heritage.

“Borderland was built to represent Sarawak in the electronic dance music world and to become the leading festivals in Southeast Asia. Just as Thailand S20 Festival successfully showcases Songkran culture to the world, we believe the traditions and cultures of Borneo deserve a global stage and can shine just as brightly,” said Borderland Music Festival Founder, Tiger Ming.

“If everything goes to plan, Borderland is preparing to host 2 additional indoor shows by the end of 2026, with one event in Kuching and another in Miri. For 2027, Borderland aims to organise a total of 4 events, including the main festival, further strengthening Sarawak’s position as a leading music tourism destination in the region,” he added.

“Beyond tourism, Borderland has created an important platform for our young talents, giving local DJs, performers and creative professionals the opportunity to perform alongside international artists, gain valuable experience and build long-term opportunities within the music & creative industries,” said Dato Sri Abdul Karim during the press conference.

“Borderland is no longer just a music festival. It is becoming a cultural and tourism movement that proudly carries the spirit of Borneo to the world,” he concluded.