Sarawak Events Calendar 2026
Major Events & Festivals

fireworks reflected on the Sarawak River in Kuching

It seems like there is always something going on in Sarawak whatever the month. With this Sarawak Events Calendar 2026 you can see month-by-month all the major events, festivals and activities planned for this year.

Of course Sarawak, with its year-round tropical climate, does not have such distinct seasonal variations that many countries experience - the weather is either hot and raining or hot and humid! Most of the top Sarawak attractions appearing on this website are available all year round such as exploring the national parks and caves, or just relaxing on the beach.

Having said that, Kuching does experience monsoon seasons, primarily the northeast monsoon from November to March bringing heavy rainfall and rougher seas when boat trips to places like Bako National Park might be affected. On the plus side, temperatures may be cooler. Drier weather occurs during the southwest monsoon from May to September.

If you are planning a trip to Sarawak it is always sensible to check what events are scheduled for your proposed dates. Even if you don't want to participate in the events yourself they might affect hotel room and air ticket availability and prices.

School holidays also affect hotel prices and availability. These are the school holiday dates for Sarawak in 2026 as announced by the Ministry of Education:

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS CALENDAR FOR 2026


For schools in Sarawak:

Academic Calendar 2026

  • First Day of School 12 Jan 2026 (Mon)
  • Term 1 Holidays 21 Mar 2026 (Sat) - 29 Mar 2065 (Sun)
  • Mid Year Holidays 23 May 2026 (Sat) - 7 Jun 2026 (Sun)
  • Term 2 Holidays 29 Aug 2026 (Sat) - 6 Sep 2026 (Sun)
  • End of School Year Holidays 5 Dec 2026 (Sat) - 31 Dec 2026 (Thu)

Source: Ministry of Education

Other Public Holiday Dates in Sarawak

  • New Year's Day 1 January 2026
  • Chinese New Year 16 - 20 February 2026
  • Hari Raya Aidilfitri 19 - 23 Mar 2026
  • Good Friday 3 April 2026
  • Labour Day 1 May 2026
  • Hari Raya Haji 27 May 2026
  • Wesak Day 31 May 2026
  • Gawai Dayak Festival 1 - 2 June 2026
  • Agong's Birthday 1 June 2026
  • Awal Muharram 17 June 2026
  • Sarawak Day 22 July 2026
  • Prophet Muhammad's Birthday 25 August 2026
  • Merdeka Day 31 August 2026
  • Malaysia Day 16 September 2026
  • Sarawak Governor's Birthday 10 October 2026
  • Christmas Day 25 Dec 2026

Events Held Throughout the Year

Kuching Waterfront puts on a colourful musical fountain and laser show every night throughout the year at 8:30pm and 9:30pm lasting 15 minutes each time.

On the first Sunday of every month a flag raising ceremony is held at Ibu Pertiwi, the giant flagpole near the Astana.

On the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month Kuching has it's Car-Free Mornings when residents are encouraged to reclaim the streets for a few hours, get some exercise and enjoy the exhaust-free air.

On the 1st and 3rd Saturday Saturday of each month the Kuching Natural Farmers' Market is held at MBKS covered carpark from 7:30-11am where you can buy anything from goats' milk to potted plants.

Sarawak Events Calendar 2026 Month by Month

Some of the dates are tentative at this stage. I shall be updating the page throughout the year as and when timings are confirmed.

If you are organising any events in Sarawak this year which you would like to publicise, please provide details on my Contact page and I will happily include them on this Sarawak events calendar free of charge.

january

I think Kuching must be the fireworks capital of Asia as I have never seen so many spectacular fireworks displays on an almost nightly basis from Christmas through to Chinese New Year and beyond.

february

colourful lights and decor at Siniawan

Chinese New Year falls on 17 February this year. You can see how Sarawakians welcome in the Year of the Horse (think noisily!) with joyful celebrations, lion dances, fireworks and lots of food. Some of the main temples have splendid light and lantern displays at this time of year, including Tua Pek Kong temple and Hong San Is temple.

The 2026 Miri Gong Xi Bazaar with exciting stage shows and cultural performances takes place from 7-14 February.

march

The fasting month of Ramadan is one of the highlights of the annual calendar and special food stalls and bazaars spring up all over Sarawak during this time. Ramadan this year will last approximately from 18 February - 19 March 2026 with exact dates depending on the moon sighting.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a nationwide celebration marking the end of the fasting month. Homes, restaurants and shopping malls will be beautifully decorated for the celebrations. This year it falls around 20 March 2026.

MATTA Fair, Malaysia's largest consumer travel fair is returning to Sarawak again this year, taking place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from 28-29 March 2026 and always attracts a big crowd looking for travel ideas and hoping to bag travel bargains.

Siniawan Old Town is host to the annual Chap Goh Meh celebrations on 3 March 2026 with a procession in honour of Guanyin featuring lion and dragon dance performances, colourful lanterns and of course firecrackers.

april

The Kuching International X-Games will be held from 8-12 April 2026 at Kuching Waterfront and is expected to attract more than 200 high-adrenaline loving athletes from Malaysia and abroad. As well as the return of extreme sports such as BMX, skateboarding and rollerblading, this year's event will also introduce water-based competitions such as jet ski racing.

Miri Marathon 12 April 2026 at Jalan Merpati, Miri.

Seng Ong Deity Birthday Procession will be held on 9 April 2026 centred on the Hong San Si Temple in Kuching.

may

Buddhist statues at KBS Village

Wesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. This year, Wesak Day falls on 31 May 2026 and activities will be held in Buddhist temples all over the state.

The Kuching Heritage Race returns this year but with a new theme, 'Culinary Quest' with participants invited to explore the city's vibrant heritage through its food. This tasty event is set for 9 May 2026.

poster for culinary quest

The Sarawak Harvest & Folklore Festival 2026 is scheduled to take place on May 23-24, 2026, at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching. This annual two-day event celebrates the local harvest season with cultural performances, the "Miss Cultural Harvest Festival" pageant, and the intense Tribal Ironman competition.

Silent Run - Run With The Deaf will be held in Bintulu on 10 May, in Miri on 24 May, in Sibu on 14 June and Kuching on 28 Jun 2026.

june

dayak woman photo from Borneo Cultures Museum

photo source: Borneo Cultures Museum

Gawai Dayak, 1st - 2nd Jun 2025, is a rice harvest festival for the state's indigenous Dayak people and is celebrated with music, feasting and traditional rituals.

Kuching Lights and Floral Festival 26-28 June at Taman Botani.

The Rainforest World Music Festival, one of the largest musical events in Malaysia, will be held in the shadow of legendary Mt. Santubong near Kuching, Sarawak from 26 - 28 June 2026. This year's event includes performances by Malaysia's Dato M. Nasir, The Commodores featuring Thomas McClary from USA and Incognito from UK. This is probably the top event on the Sarawak events calendar.

Charity Food Fair will be held in Kuching on 21 June 2026.

july

SIOL International Mountain Bike Challenge (UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series) 10-12 July at Siol MTB Track.

The Taste of Borneo Cultural Carnival is scheduled for 1-12 Just 2026 at Boulevard Miri. A major highlight will a display of over 1,000 bamboo and rattan woven baskets.

A 5km Sarawak Day Run takes place at Dewan Sarah, Bintulu on 19 July 2026.

More adventurous, the Balleh-Kapit Raft Safari River Expedition has become one of Sarawak's top tourism events. It is a three-day rafting competition on the Balleh River where participants experience the rich Iban culture. Awaiting confirmation it is to return this year but last year it was held from 11-13 July.

The Borneo Cultural Festival is a week long free event showcasing the food, music and dances of the multicultural communities who are unique to Sarawak. Dates for this year's event have not yet been announced but it usually takes place in Sibu Town Square in mid-July.

Kuching Festival Food Fair, scheduled for 22 July–16 August 2026, features a 26-day celebration with international gastronomy representatives.

The Garden Show is a highlight of the annual Kuching Festival, typically held at MBKS Kuching Park in July/August. In 2025, it ran from July 25 to August 17, featuring themed garden landscapes, plant sales, and evening activities. While 2026 dates are pending, it usually aligns with the festival food fair.

august

National Day, or Hari Merdeka, is on 31 August 2026 and parades and other activities will be held to celebrate the day on which the country achieved its independence from Britain.

DBKU Mayor's Run 2 August at Padang Merdeka.

Fiesta Perpaduan 29-30 August at Taman Perpaduan.

The Sibu International Dance Festival is a five day feast of everything dance-related and takes place from 29 August - 2 September 2026 in Sibu.

september

Kuching International Arts & Crafts Fair 4-6 September at Kuching Waterfront. This event had its debut in 2025 and attracted participants from 35 countries.

october

porcelain blue and white cat

Kuching International Cat Festival 2-4 October at Kuching Waterfront.

Santubong International Trail Run 24 October at Gunung Santubong. This will be its third year and the organisers are hoping to draw even more international participation this year.

Pickleball Piala Datuk Bandar 31 October at Wisma SABATI.

Padawan  International Festival including the Padawan Raft Safari promises to be a major highlight this month. Details to be announced.

november

Silat Piala Datuk Bandar 28-29 November 2026.

The spotlight is on Miri this month where the Borneo Jazz Festival, one of southeast Asia's longest running jazz events, is to be staged at the Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club from 28-29 November 2026. This is a highlight of the Sarawak Events Calendar.

december

Sarawak has a sizeable Christian population and the various churches come together in December to put on a Christmas Parade through the streets of downtown Kuching with marching bands and colourful floats. The date is to be announced but last year it was held on 6 December. Elsewhere, some of the best Xmas decoration displays can be found in Kuching's top shopping malls.

Sarawakians like to see in the New Year with enthusiastic celebrations and plenty of cheer. Lavish firework displays are held in major towns all over the country.

That's it! I'll add more items to this Sarawak Events Calendar as the year progresses.

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