Festivals across Borneo from now to the end of 2027. A date is shown only when the government or the organiser has announced it, or the calendar fixes it; check with the organiser before you travel.
An annual festival at Belawai Beach, Tanjung Manis, with traditional dances, music, food and people’s sports, including a fishing competition, a decorated-boat competition and a kite show.
A month-long arts and culture festival held every October across Kuching’s neighbourhoods: exhibitions, performances, talks, workshops and food, run with the community.
Kuching’s biennial cat festival at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, with a World Cat Federation cat show, a live cat parade, a cat expo and grooming showcases.
Three days of Sabah’s traditional arts and ethnic music in a world-music setting at Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, organised by the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) Sabah.
The Mukah Division Lantern Festival, a Chinese-culture celebration since 2022, with lantern-making and mooncake design competitions and performances at Dataran Pehin Setia Raja, Mukah.
Bamboo-raft trips down a clear river past the villages of Annah Rais, Temurang, Danu, Semedang and Git, organised by Padawan Municipal Council.
The International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026, a two-day conference in Kuching.
An activity-tourism expo at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu, showing Sabah’s outdoor and adventure tourism in five areas: sports, adventure, culture, eco-tourism and education tourism. Organised by the Sabah Tourism Board.
The Thirteenth Malaysian Ghost Art Exhibition: thirteen ghosts from Malaysian folklore and urban legend shown as a museum-style exhibition, not a haunted house, at The Walk, Riverson, Kota Kinabalu. Free entry.
The 10th Sarawak Premier Cup, an international Muay Thai tournament with local and overseas fighters, at Naim Street Mall, Bintulu Paragon.
Kota Belud’s big district festival, from 10 to 18 October: the Tamu Geopark Kota Belud on 10 and 11 October, and the Tamu Besar throughout. Kota Belud is on the west coast, north of Kota Kinabalu.
The Borneo Global Meditourism Congress and Expo 2026, on medical tourism, in Kuching.
The Nam Tien Kong parade for the Nine Emperor Gods (Jiu Wang Da Di) at Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu.
A MABBIM lecture, listed in Brunei Tourism’s calendar. Brunei Tourism’s calendar marks the date as to be confirmed.
The 22nd General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of ICOMOS, the international council on monuments and sites, in Kuching.
The 22nd Sabah Open Dancesport Championship, a ballroom dancing competition at the Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu, run by the Imperial Ballroom Dancing School.
A 9.8 km trail run through montane forest near Timpohon Gate, the day before the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.
The 33rd edition of the mountain race up and down Mount Kinabalu, starting at 6:30 am. Expect the park and the summit trail to be busy that day.
Malinau Regency’s cultural festival, held with the regency’s anniversary: traditional rituals, cultural performances and competitions by the area’s ethnic groups, eco-tourism activities and local innovations. Free entry. Malinau is in North Kalimantan.
The tapah fish festival at Kampung Long Bemang in Baram: traditional tapah fishing and casting competitions, freshwater dishes, and evening Datun Julud dance and sape music. It also promotes protecting freshwater fish breeding areas.
Sarawakian Kitchen food booths, a craft bazaar and hands-on workshops with local artisans at the Kuching Waterfront, supporting local small businesses.
A festival of Orang Ulu culture in Belaga district: pondok competitions, sape music, dances and songs by ethnic group, and folk games such as blowpipe shooting and top spinning. It alternates each year with the Belaga Regatta.
Tenom’s coffee festival, which also honours farmers, livestock raisers and fishermen, held at Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Antanom in Tenom, south of Keningau.
Local and international teams race on the Sarawak River at the Kuching Waterfront in an event affiliated to the International Dragon Boat Federation.
The third Siburan Carnival, with activities and exhibitions to bring the community together and show off the Siburan district, at Dewan Siburan on the Kuching–Serian road.
A sunset ride in Kota Kinabalu starting from KK Sentral, organised by STGA. One ride a month is listed on Sabah Tourism’s calendar.
The first Krian Nature Marathon, a race that combines nature, culture and eco-tourism, at Nanga Budu sub-district, Saratok.
The first Santubong International Trail Run, organised by Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), on the trails of Mount Santubong through rainforest and varied terrain.
The 34th edition of Sabah’s extreme 4x4 off-road challenge, run by the Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association. It flags off from the Sabah Tourism Board’s 0KM point in Kota Kinabalu; the organiser sets the route and what spectators can see.
Serian District Council’s annual cross-country run, with 21 km, 10 km and 5 km races at Kampung Daha Kisau, Tebedu, that also shows Bidayuh culture.
Dalat’s biennial carnival promoting its balau forest products, culture and natural beauty, at Dalat Waterfront in Mukah Division.
The regatta that began in 1872 under Sir James Brooke: Kenyalang, Bidar and Balok boat races with teams of 15 to 30 paddlers, plus a Sarawak Kitchen food festival and a craft festival, at the Kuching Waterfront.
Two days of culture from Sabah and abroad at the Koisaan Cultural Village in Penampang, near Kota Kinabalu.
The International Congress of Language, Literature and Culture, listed in Brunei Tourism’s calendar. Brunei Tourism’s calendar marks the date as to be confirmed.
Formerly the Long Lama Water Sports Festival: speedboat and rowing races, traditional folk games and evening cultural performances at Long Lama in Baram.
Sports, motorcycle exhibitions, convoys, autoshow competitions and cultural performances at Lapangan Rekreasi Limbang, run by the Limbang youth association SABERKAS.
The Brunei Darussalam Geospatial Challenge 2026, listed in Brunei Tourism’s calendar. Brunei Tourism’s calendar marks the date as to be confirmed.
The CIFA Regional Symposium 2026, a three-day symposium in Kuching.
A traditional barefoot tug-of-war tournament with teams from Malaysia and abroad at Kompleks Sukan Limbang, with cultural performances and local products.
The Asia Conference on Agriculture and Plantation Industry (ACAPI) 2026, a three-day conference in Kuching.
A programme introducing Kedayan culture, customs and traditions, with cultural performances and local products, at the Lawas indoor stadium.
A sunset ride in Kota Kinabalu starting from KK Sentral, organised by STGA. One ride a month is listed on Sabah Tourism’s calendar.
Brunei Tourism’s month-long festival over the school holidays, with events at various locations across the country.
A year-end book sale promotion at the Indoor Stadium, Berakas, through December.
The 20th edition, for the first time in Miri city centre at the Pullman Miri Waterfront: two evenings of jazz and more, with acts from seven countries. Tickets go on sale on 3 October.
RC boat, flying and crawler competitions with exhibitions and stalls. The carnival ran every year from 2015 to 2019 and returns in 2026 at a new site, Untong Niee, Kampung Riih Daso.
A trail-running adventure through Kiulu Valley with traditional sports games and outdoor activities, organised by the Kiulu Tourism Association with the Sabah Tourism Board.
The 8th Sarikei Unity Run, a 10 km run and a 5 km fun run, with a unity breakfast and a workout based on Sarawak folk dance.
Christmas is a major festival across Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, with church services, carols and open houses. Flights home fill up early.
A day of activities leading to a concert and a midnight fireworks display at the Kuching Waterfront to welcome 2027.
Open houses, lion dances and fireworks in every town with a Chinese community, Kuching, Sibu, Kota Kinabalu and Singkawang above all.
The fifteenth night of the lunar new year. Singkawang’s tatung parade is one of the largest in Southeast Asia; the city sets the parade day and route.
Brunei’s National Day, 23 February every year. In 2026 the celebration was held at Taman Haji Sir Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The end of Ramadan. Expect busy roads and ferries before it, open houses during it, and many shops closed. The date depends on the sighting of the moon.
Around the equinox the midday sun stands straight overhead at the Equator Monument and shadows all but disappear. Pontianak usually marks it with an event.
The 16th Malaysia-ASEAN Kinabalu Climb, a group climb on Mount Kinabalu run by the Global Expedition Club.
The Melanau festival on the beach at Mukah that opens the fishing season, with the tibau, a giant swing.
The Bajau Laut’s painted lepa boats sail out in Semporna, with music and dances on the water.
The 9th Congress of the Asian Society for Neuroanesthesia and Critical Care (ASNACC 2027), a four-day medical congress in Kuching.
Sabah’s harvest festival. The state celebration ends at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang with the Unduk Ngadau pageant; villages celebrate all through May.
Central Kalimantan’s Dayak culture festival in Palangka Raya, held since 1993, with traditional sports, games, arts and food. Free entry. It ran from 17 to 23 May in both 2025 and 2026.
The Dayak harvest festival. Many families go home to the longhouses upriver, so buses, flights and boats fill up in the days before 1 June.
Three days of music from around the world at the Sarawak Cultural Village, below Mount Santubong. Afternoon storms are part of it.
The Sultan’s birthday, 15 July every year and a public holiday. In 2026 the 80th birthday celebration was held at Taman Haji Sir Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in Bandar Seri Begawan.
A month of food stalls, stages and night markets around Kuching’s city centre.
The 34th Southeast Asian Games, hosted by Malaysia from 18 to 29 September 2027. Sarawak is the main co-host and opens the Games: 17 of the 38 sports, from aquatics and weightlifting to tennis and wushu, are all held in Kuching.
The September equinox: the midday sun is straight overhead at the Equator Monument again.
Malinau’s cultural festival is held in October, with the regency’s anniversary: 20 to 26 October in 2026.
The mountain race up and down Mount Kinabalu, held every October: 19 October in 2025 and 18 October in 2026.
Christmas is a major festival across Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, with church services, carols and open houses. Flights home fill up early.