Kuching, Sarawak – The WAK Festival 2026 officially launched its Call for Proposals (CFP) today, inviting creatives, cultural practitioners, and community organisations from Sarawak and the surrounding region to participate in its 8th edition. The event, held at 11 Ridgeway, Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, was officiated by YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak.
The festival’s directors, Donald Tan and Marina Foo, welcomed attendees and outlined the new theme, “Shoots”. Described by Donald Tan as a symbol of emergence, renewal, and growth, the theme encourages fresh talents and collaborations to flourish within Sarawak’s creative ecosystem. “If roots ground us, shoots carry us forward. Today’s Call for Proposals is an open invitation to be part of that growth,” Tan said. He emphasised that WAK has always thrived on collective energy, highlighting the festival as a platform where creativity serves as a catalyst for connection and opportunity.
Under the “Shoots” theme, the festival seeks bold and experimental proposals spanning music, visual arts, performance, design, digital innovation, culinary arts, and lifestyle programming. First-time creators are encouraged to step forward, while established practitioners are invited to mentor emerging talents, ensuring that new ideas continue to develop even after the festival ends.
In his address, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted WAK Festival’s growing importance in Sarawak’s cultural landscape. He noted that the festival has become one of the most anticipated creative events in the State’s calendar. “If previous editions strengthened our foundations, ‘Shoots’ represents growth in motion; new talents rising, new collaborations forming, and new creative enterprises flourishing,” he said. The Minister also called upon creatives from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Peninsular Malaysia to submit their proposals through the official WAK Festival website.
WAK Festival 2026 will take place across multiple locations in Sarawak, with satellite editions in Sibu (12–14 June) and Miri (19–21 June), followed by the month-long Kuching festival from 1–31 October. The festival promises to provide a vibrant stage for local, regional, and international creatives, transforming galleries, cafes, cultural venues, and public spaces into dynamic hubs for arts and lifestyle experiences.
The organisers urged media partners and creative communities to amplify the Call for Proposals, encouraging emerging and established talents alike to participate. With the continued support of the Sarawak Government and the strength of its creative community, WAK 2026 is poised to be its most dynamic edition yet. Creatives and organisations interested in participating can submit proposals via www.wakfestival.com.
