By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 31: The Borneo Animation and Games Festival (BAGFEST) 2026, one of Southeast Asia’s largest gatherings of animation, games, and digital content industry players, is set to take place in Kuching from Aug 19-23.
Co-organised by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), the festival will feature over 30 renowned international and Malaysian speakers, over 50 exhibitors, and industry buyers, investors, publishers, studios, and creative professionals.
“The festival aims to create new opportunities for original intellectual property (IP) development, investment, business partnerships, talent development, and international market access,” said a joint press release.
It also noted that MDEC and SDEC had launched the 20-day countdown to festival today.
MDEC chief executive officer (CEO) and BAGFEST 2026 co-chair Anuar Fariz Fadzil said that the festival brings to life Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional leader in digital content and creative innovation.
“BAGFEST is where creativity meets opportunity. By bringing together creators, studios, investors and global industry leaders, we are accelerating the development of original Malaysian IP, expanding international collaborations and creating new business opportunities.
“Together with SDEC, we are positioning Sarawak as a regional gateway for the animation, games and digital content industry,” he said.
Meanwhile, SDEC CEO Dato Sudarnoto Osman said BAGFEST 2026 is designed to create stronger pathways for Sarawak creators to reach regional and international markets.
“Behind every successful animation, game or digital IP is a creator who was given the right opportunity. BAGFEST 2026 creates a meeting point for creators, studios, publishers, investors, and technology companies to exchange ideas, forge partnerships and shape the future of the industry.
“We want more Sarawak-made ideas to become globally recognised intellectual property. Our hope is that, years from now, we’ll be able to look back and know that a successful Sarawak studio, a breakthrough game or an internationally recognised animation can trace its beginnings back to BAGFEST,” he said.
The programme combines high-level industry engagement with public participation through an international conference, business matching, a networking dinner, an elevator pitch competition, portfolio reviews, technical workshops, an exhibition, animation film screenings, BAGFEST Con, and a two-day MYFutureJobs Metaverse Career Fair.
Keynote speakers include Rob Doherty, vice president of production at Hasbro Entertainment, whose production credits include ‘Angry Birds: Summer Madness’, ‘Supa Team 4’, and ‘Space Chickens in Space’; Sidney Kombo, lead animation supervisor at Wētā FX, known for his work on ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’; Lyon Liew, technical director for simulation at Pixar Animation Studios; Ryan Lee, executive director and co-founder of The Pinkfong Company; and Takafumi Yuki, CEO and producer of Throne Inc.
Malaysia’s creative industry will be represented by Puan Sri Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina Eu Effendi, group CEO and president of Enfiniti Group of Companies; Datuk Burhanuddin Md Radzi, founder and managing director of Les’ Copaque Production and creator of ‘Upin & Ipin’; Usamah Zaid Yasin, founder and CEO of WAU Animation, creator of the ‘Ejen Ali’ franchise; Juhaidah Joemin, supervising producer at Visional Pop; and Wan Hazmer from Metronomik, the award-winning game developer behind ‘No Straight Roads’.
More than 50 exhibition booths have been confirmed, featuring government agencies, technology companies, creative studios and higher learning institutions.
UNICEF Malaysia will also participate in BAGFEST 2026, bringing its global expertise in child online protection into discussions on creating safer and more inclusive games and digital experiences for children.
The festival’s official opening ceremony will be held on August 21 and is expected to be graced by the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, together with Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo.
Ahead of the festival, the BAGFEST co-chairs will host a media engagement session in Kuching on August 11, offering the media an exclusive preview of the programme highlights, keynote speakers, and strategic outcomes.
For the latest programme, speaker updates, and ticket information, visit www.bagf.my. — DayakDaily
