KUCHING – The 23rd Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival is set to bring food, cultural activities and community celebrations to Carpenter Street, with about 100 stalls planned for the event from 26 September to 6 October 2026.
The festival was highlighted in Kuching on Wednesday, 23 September, with Mayor of Kuching North His Grace Dato Haji Hilmy bin Haji Othman among those present.
The annual event will feature stalls selling a range of food, drinks and mooncakes, alongside various other products and activities for visitors.
Carpenter Street, one of Kuching’s established heritage areas, will form the setting for the festival, with lantern decorations and cultural performances expected to contribute to the atmosphere throughout the event.
In his speech, Hilmy described the festival as an annual occasion that attracts attention for the way it brings activity to the heritage area while providing a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together.
He said events of this nature have a role beyond celebrating traditional customs, as they can also provide opportunities for interaction among Kuching’s multicultural communities.
The festival’s inter-cultural character is reflected in its combination of food, cultural performances, traditional elements and participation from members of different communities.
According to Hilmy, such events can contribute to strengthening unity, harmony and a sense of togetherness among residents.
The Mayor also expressed hope that the festival would continue to serve as a link between different parts of the community while giving younger generations an opportunity to become familiar with local traditions and cultural practices.
He said passing cultural traditions on to younger people was important in maintaining the characteristics that contribute to Kuching’s identity as a diverse city.
The festival is expected to provide opportunities for residents and visitors to experience different aspects of Kuching’s cultural life within the heritage setting of Carpenter Street.
The event also combines commercial activity with community and cultural elements, with traders and stall operators expected to offer a variety of food, beverages, mooncakes and other products during the 11-day festival.
Its return for a 23rd edition reflects the continued organisation of the event as part of Kuching’s calendar of community and cultural activities.
The use of lantern decorations and cultural performances will add to the visual and festive setting of Carpenter Street, while the variety of stalls is expected to cater to visitors looking for food, drinks and festival-related offerings.
Organisers and city representatives have also highlighted the role of the festival in encouraging interaction among residents and providing a setting where cultural traditions can be shared.
The event will run from 26 September to 6 October, giving residents and visitors multiple opportunities to visit Carpenter Street during the festival period.
Also present were entrepreneur Sih Hua Tong; council member Mohammad Faisal bin Adenan; DBKU Acting Director Rudzaimeir Malek; DBKU Community Services Department Deputy Director Ramli bin Omar; DBKU Community Department Head; and Captain Lim Chuan Chan, organising chairman of the 23rd Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival.
