This month, the city of Sibu in Sarawak comes alive with the sights, sounds and flavours of Borneo. The Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) returns to Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang, bringing together communities from across the region for one of Sarawak’s most vibrant celebrations of cultural heritage.
Organised by Sibu Municipal Council, this year’s festival takes the theme ‘Echoes of Borneo’. Through traditional music, dance, food, crafts and cultural displays, the event celebrates the stories and traditions passed down through generations. It also reflects the remarkable diversity of Sarawak, where Dayak, Chinese, Malay, Melanau and other communities have helped shape a distinctive cultural identity.
Ten days of culture and celebration
The main programme gets underway with an opening night on 6 September. This is followed by a series of themed evenings showcasing different facets of local culture. Chinese Night takes place on 7 September, followed by Dayak Night on 8 September and Malay/Melanau Night on 9 September. Spectacular Night and International Night follow on 10 and 11 September respectively, with the main stage celebrations concluding on 12 September.
Throughout the festival, visitors can expect cultural performances, traditional music and dance, exhibitions and plenty of opportunities to sample Sarawak’s famously diverse cuisine. Admission is free, making BCF an accessible introduction to the cultures that call Borneo home.
Dayak traditions take centre stage
One of this year’s highlights is the Dayak Pavilion. Its programme includes nightly cultural performances alongside traditional cooking and drinks competitions. Visitors can discover pansuh – food traditionally cooked inside bamboo – and tuak, the rice wine closely associated with Dayak celebrations.
Traditional skills will also be put to the test during the BCF International Blowpipe Competition. More than 100 competitors from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesian Kalimantan have been invited to participate, providing a fascinating showcase of an Indigenous tradition that has been practised in Borneo for generations.
Another eye-catching attraction is the giant itut, a traditional Melanau swing standing approximately 15 metres tall. The attraction proved hugely popular in 2025, when 2,288 people took a turn on the swing. It returns this year under the fitting slogan ‘Everybody Can Swing’.
Discover Sibu
Located beside the mighty Rajang River, Sibu provides an ideal setting for the festival. The city is known for its multicultural heritage and makes a fascinating starting point for exploring central Sarawak.
A visit to BCF can be combined with Sibu’s markets, temples and famous local food scene, or extended into a journey along the Rajang River and deeper into Sarawak. For travellers looking beyond Malaysia’s better-known destinations, the festival offers an opportunity to experience Borneo through the people, traditions and flavours that make it unique.
The Borneo Cultural Festival 2026 will be hosted at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang, Sibu, Sarawak from 5–14 September* 2026. Admission is free.
*The festival was originally scheduled for 3–12 September but was postponed due to haze conditions in Sibu. Main stage performances are currently scheduled for 6–12 September. Visitors are advised to check the latest local information before attending.
