Sarawak to host inaugural Harvest & Folklore Festival

PHOTO CREDIT: UKAS

KUCHING, 14 May 2026 - Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) will host the inaugural Sarawak Harvest & Folklore Festival 2026 on May 23 and 24 at its grounds in Damai, Santubong here. This was announced at a press conference earlier today by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Building here.

The two-day festival, themed “Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring Future”, is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts (MTCP) and Tourism Malaysia, and is aimed at strengthening Sarawak’s standing as a premier cultural tourism destination.

Karim described the festival as a platform for the State’s diverse communities to come together and celebrate their shared identity.

“This festival is one of the key initiatives by my Ministry and Tourism Malaysia to position Sarawak as a premier destination for cultural tourism,” he said, adding that inclusivity was central to the event’s spirit.

“It is a platform for local craftspeople, ethnic cooks, and young talents to express their creativity and keep Sarawak’s heritage alive,” he continued.

The festival will run from 9 am to 11 pm on both days. It features a packed programme of performances, cultural showcases, craft bazaars, and ethnic food stalls.

A highlight of this year’s edition is a drama musical titled ‘Belawan Burieng – The Hercules of the Keliman River’, an outdoor theatrical production set to be staged lakeside at 9pm nightly. Based on an original script by Livan Tajang, the production draws on the ancient Kayan legend of Belawan Burieng, a warrior of divine heritage celebrated for his courage, strength, and wisdom. The cast includes local talents Azam Pit and Lorna Walter, as well as SCV dancers and members of the local community.

Daytime visitors can also catch the Culturalvaganza Show, a colourful showcase of Sarawak's ethnic music and dance traditions, performed twice daily at 11 am and 3.30 pm inside the theatre. Performers this year include the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association, the Ring Ladies of Borneo from Kampung Semban, Padawan, and the Sarawak Tagal (Okolod) Association. SCV's own artists will also hold additional cultural performances at the Open Lawn at 11.30am and 4.00pm.

A craft bazaar and food and beverage stalls offering a variety of ethnic cuisines will be open daily from 9.30am.

Entrance to the festival is priced at a flat rate of RM20 for adults and RM10 for children for the day session (9 am–6 pm), while tickets for the night show (6 pm–11 pm) are priced at RM50 for adults and RM30 for children.

Karim explained that the straightforward pricing was a deliberate decision.

“One of the unique features of the festival is that entrance is at flat rate... This encourages more visitors to join and enjoy the celebrations without any barriers,” he said.

As of today's press conference, the festival has already recorded 3,875 ticket purchases through its official website, www.sarawakharvestfestival.com.my. 

To ease traffic, shuttle services will be available from the Sports Village parking area from 9 am onwards, with fares set at RM5 for adults and RM3 for children per trip. A dedicated pick-up point is also available at the Damai Golf & Country Club checkpoint at a flat rate of RM5 per person.

Apart from the performances, the Minister emphasised the festival’s significance as a celebration of unity among Sarawak’s communities.

“Sarawak Harvest & Folklore Festival is a celebration of unity, culture, and the future,” Karim said, adding that the event draws participation from local communities, students from colleges throughout Sarawak, cultural enthusiasts, and creative talents statewide.

“Their participation not only adds authenticity and vibrancy to the event but also strengthens the connection between generations in preserving and celebrating Sarawak's diverse heritage,” the Minister concluded.