By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 1: The Batu Lintang International Islamic Arts Festival (BLIIAF) 2026 is aiming for at least 30 per cent international participation after Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg proposed strengthening the festival’s global component.
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) Batu Lintang Campus director Dr Abang Ismail Abang Julhi said the target was set following the Premier’s support for the festival and his suggestion that its international elements be further enhanced to raise its global profile.
He said the proposal came after the Premier was briefed on the festival, which is scheduled to take place from Nov 20 to 23, 2026.
“BLIIAF 2026 is also targeting the participation of educators, educational institution administrators and education leaders from Asia and the Asia-Pacific region to position the festival as a platform for knowledge exchange, cultural appreciation and international networking,” he said.
At the same time, he said organisers would continue to emphasise the involvement of educational leaders, teachers, students and the local community to ensure the festival serves as a vehicle to strengthen the development of Islamic arts in the country.
He added that the festival would bring together thinkers and practitioners to discuss and further empower Islamic arts programmes without sidelining community participation.
BLIIAF 2026 is scheduled to be held at the IPG Batu Lintang Campus, Majma Hall and Darul Hana Mosque, and is expected to be officiated by the Premier.
Among the highlights planned for BLIIAF 2026 are an Islamic visual arts exhibition, calligraphy competitions, Islamic cultural performances, nasyid competitions and contemporary Islamic intellectual discourses.
Participation will be open to higher education institution students, school students, IPG trainees, international university students and members of the local community, including a village category for the nasyid competition. — DayakDaily
