KUCHING, Nov 28 — The Sarawak International Festival of Music and Art (SIFMA) 2025 is gearing up for a lively comeback, bringing two days of culture, creativity, and international talent to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex on Dec 6 and 7.
Now in its sixth edition, SIFMA continues to stand as one of Sarawak’s strongest cultural showcases. Organised by the International Music House (IMH) with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), this year’s festival aims to expand its reach and deepen its impact.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this edition would highlight not only performances but also meaningful engagement through masterclasses and outreach programmes.
He revealed that SIFMA has widened its footprint to Bintulu and Miri, inviting performers from across the state and region. “This year, SIFMA has extended its outreach to Bintulu and Miri to invite performers, with a total of 18 troupes set to entertain audiences during the two-day festival,” he said during a press conference.
The international lineup promises strong cultural diversity, featuring the B’dadali dance troupe from the Philippines, Indonesia’s Nataraharia and Puspa Karima, the Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra, and Vietnam’s Suc Song Moi Traditional Orchestra along with the Viet Lotus Groups.
Local Malaysian performers will also take centre stage, including the Cstage Dance Academy and Ask Dance Company, ensuring homegrown talent stands proudly alongside international acts.
Abdul Karim shared that a fashion segment will also be part of this year’s event, with designers from Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Peninsular Malaysia showcasing their creative works. He stressed that SIFMA plays a vital role in strengthening Sarawak’s performing arts ecosystem.
“SIFMA is a crucial initiative to build confidence in Sarawak’s performing arts industry. We want to prepare a strong pool of capable artisans and performers so that when the performing arts centre is ready, Sarawak will already have the talent it needs,” he added.
IMH chief executive officer Dr Geraldine Law-Lee said the festival’s activities will begin earlier, with Junior SIFMA and the Night of Classics scheduled for Dec 2 and 3. She highlighted the ongoing ‘Music Heals Programme’, designed to support teenagers dealing with depression and elderly individuals living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
This year, university talent will also be in the spotlight, with participation from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), adding academic creativity to the event’s line-up.
As part of its community-driven approach, SIFMA 2025 will be free to the public, requiring only registration. The organisers hope this will encourage greater participation and allow more Sarawakians to experience the richness of global and local performing arts.
Also present at the press conference were Deputy Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting and Permanent Secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini.
