KUCHING – WAK Festival 2026 was officially launched on Saturday, marking the eighth edition of the Kuching-based arts, culture and lifestyle festival as organisers and the Sarawak Government outlined plans to strengthen its reach across the state.
The launch, themed “Celebrating Us”, took place on 3 October at Level 2 of the Spring, Kuching, with the programme scheduled from 4pm to 5.30pm. The event featured a welcome ceremony and cultural procession, welcoming remarks by festival directors Donald Tan and Marina Foo, an official address representing the Premier of Sarawak, the launch ceremony, a community finale, group photography, a press conference and a walkabout of Creative Street.
The Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, was represented at the launch by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
In the representative address delivered on behalf of the Premier, Abdul Karim said WAK had developed from an initiative started in Kuching in 2017 into a community-driven creative platform involving artists, performers, musicians, cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs, businesses, institutions, and communities.
The address also highlighted the development of WAK Sibu and WAK Miri, both of which entered their third editions in 2026.
The expansion has provided a platform for creative activity beyond Kuching, while retaining connections with the wider WAK network. Officials describes the festival as a community-driven, month-long celebration centred on Kuching, with satellite festivals in Sibu and Miri.
The Premier’s representative said the organisers and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak were exploring the possibility of extending the WAK model to Bintulu and other communities.
The proposed expansion was presented as part of a broader effort to connect creative communities across Sarawak. The speech said such a network could create opportunities for artists and performers, activate venues and public spaces, support local businesses and encourage visitors to explore different parts of the state.
It also positioned the festival within Sarawak’s wider creative economy, with potential benefits extending to event organisers, technicians, designers, performers, venue operators, hospitality businesses and entrepreneurs.
The speech linked these objectives to the state’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, particularly its emphasis on tourism, innovation, talent development and the creative industries.
It also stressed the importance of creating opportunities for young Sarawakians to develop creative careers and businesses while giving local practitioners avenues to present their work beyond Sarawak.
The launch address further described WAK as an example of cooperation between government, the private sector and the creative community.
Under that approach, government support provides an enabling environment, while businesses contribute resources, expertise, venues and networks, with creative practitioners bringing ideas and programmes.
For the 2026 Kuching edition, the festival is running from 1 to 31 October. Organisers have listed 83 unique events, 440 daily event occurrences, 49 collaborators and 14 creative genres, covering areas including art, comedy, culture, music, theatre, sport, food, film and wellness.
The official programme includes exhibitions, performances, concerts, talks, workshops, markets and other creative activities across Kuching. Events are being staged in a range of locations including heritage spaces, museums, cafes, hotels, galleries and performance venues.
The wider WAK programme in 2026 has already included the third editions of WAK Sibu and WAK Miri in June. WAK Miri ran from 19 to 21 June, while WAK Sibu took place from 12 to 14 June.
YB Karim also highlighted Kuching’s existing international cultural positioning, including its recognition as a City of Unity, World Crafts City and UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The address said these designations ultimately depended on the people and communities who gave them meaning through cultural and creative activity.
The festival directors’ welcoming remarks similarly placed emphasis on community participation. They said WAK had been built around bringing Sarawak’s creative community together and providing space for artists, musicians, designers, makers, storytellers, entrepreneurs, organisers and emerging talents.
The organisers acknowledged the support of the Sarawak Government, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, city councils, government agencies, partners, sponsors, and supporters. They also thanked Abdul Karim for his guidance and support, while describing the festival as a platform belonging collectively to the creative community.
Among those listed as guests were Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Consul-General of Brunei Darussalam in Sarawak Tuan Sheikh Abdul Mahdani Dato Paduka Sheikh Haji Abdul Gani; Consul-General of Indonesia in Sarawak Dr Abdullah Zulkifli and his spouse Ibu Gusti Nirmala Zulkifli; Kuching North Mayor Dato Haji Hilmy Haji Othman; Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman KR Abang Ismawi Abang Ali; Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Cr Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Dato Roseley; and a representative of Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Cr Eric Tay.
Other representatives included Sarawak Department of Culture and Arts director Noor Seela Noor Sulaiman, Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office-Singapore deputy chief executive Putrie Rozana Soraya, a representative of Business Events Sarawak chief executive Jason Tan Chin Foo, a representative of the Sarawak Tourism Federation president Audry Wan Ullok, Asia Pacific Craft Alliance deputy chairman Edric Ong and Society Atelier Sarawak president Melinda Omar.
WAK founding festival directors Donald Tan and Marina Foo were also listed among the distinguished guests and members of the media at the launch.
The festival’s officials identify the 2026 edition as the eighth Kuching edition, with the wider WAK movement continuing to operate across Kuching, Sibu and Miri. The official WAK website says the festival began in 2017 and has developed through collaboration involving government agencies, councils, private-sector partners and creative communities.
In his address, the Premier’s representative encouraged the organisers to strengthen links between Kuching, Sibu and Miri, explore Bintulu and other communities when appropriate, develop Sarawakian talent and build stronger regional and international creative partnerships.
He also called on government agencies, government-linked companies and private-sector organisations to view support for WAK as participation in the wider creative economy rather than solely as event sponsorship.
The launch concluded with a call to continue developing WAK as a Sarawak creative platform while retaining its focus on collaboration across cultures, generations, industries and communities.
Team Sarawak Daily and Kuching King supports the event and will cover all news related to the WAK Festival 2026. Stay with Sarawak Daily & Kuching King to get the latest update about the prestigious event.
The 2026 edition is continuing throughout October, with its official programme presenting the festival as a platform for arts, culture and lifestyle activities across Kuching and as part of a wider network of creative activity in Sarawak. – Sarawak Daily
