RWMF 2026 holds Sponsors’ Appreciation Day
- BT
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KUCHING, 22 May 2026: The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2026 Sponsors’ Appreciation Day was held yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuching, bringing together sponsors, strategic partners, media organisations, tourism stakeholders, collaborators and supporting agencies contributing towards the upcoming 29th edition of the festival.
RWMF 2026 continues to receive strong backing from strategic partners across aviation, media, sustainability, hospitality, mobility and corporate sectors, reaffirming industry confidence in one of the region’s internationally recognised music and cultural festivals.
“One of the most meaningful things about the Rainforest World Music Festival is that no single
organisation can build it alone. Every edition of RWMF is shaped by people and partners who continue to contribute their time, expertise, resources, creativity, and belief into making the festival what it is today,” said Sarawak Tourism Board CEO, Dr. Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor in her opening speech, adding that each sponsor and strategic partner contributes to different parts of the visitor journey, from accessibility and hospitality to media visibility, sustainability implementation, mobility, and overall festival experience.
Also speaking during the RWMF 2026 Sponsors’ Appreciation Day was Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak, Datuk Sebastian Ting, representing Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who said the continued support received for RWMF reflects growing confidence in Sarawak’s tourism direction and the international value of culture-led tourism.
“Festivals such as RWMF do far more than entertain. They shape destination identity, strengthen international visibility, encourage cultural exchange, and create meaningful connections between people and places,” he said. “Through RWMF, the world does not only hear music. The world encounters Sarawak, our rainforest, our traditions, our communities, our hospitality, and our spirit.”
During the post-event press conference, Datuk Sebastian Ting also shared that the Sultan of Selangor, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj will be attending the festival, marking His Royal Highness’ second appearance, following his visit in 2024. Members of the royal family of Perlis is also expected to attend.
Official partners for RWMF 2026 include Malaysia Airlines and Firefly as Official Airline Partners, Sarawak Media Group (TV Sarawak) as Official Broadcast Partner, Astro Radio comprising Era FM Sarawak, Sinar FM, Mix FM and Lite FM as Official Radio Partners, and Ripcurl as Official Apparel Partner.
The festival is further strengthened by organisations across the sustainability, hospitality, beverage, media, mobility, and corporate sectors, including Platinum Sponsors, Cuckoo International (Mal) Sdn Bhd, F&N Marketing Sdn Bhd, Plaza Merdeka & The Waterfront Hotel Kuching, Media Exchange, Avis Budget Malaysia and Carlsberg Marketing Sdn Bhd, Gold Sponsor, Solarvest Borneo Sdn Bhd (Sarawak) and supporters, PETROS, and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
Together, these sponsors, partners, and collaborators play an important role in strengthening RWMF’s reach, experience, and continued growth as one of Sarawak’s key cultural and tourism platforms. This year’s sponsorship ecosystem reflects continued industry confidence and collaborative support across multiple sectors, reinforcing RWMF’s role as an established regional platform for cultural exchange, destination visibility, tourism engagement, and international connectivity.
As part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, RWMF 2026 will continue implementing initiatives such as Green Ruai, Green Warriors, recycling efforts, water refill stations, waste reduction measures, and eco-conscious festival operations in encouraging more responsible festival experiences and visitor behaviour.
