By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 17: Kuching Festival 2026 attracted more than one million visitors despite the haze that affected the city during the festival period.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian confirmed the milestone in a Facebook post following the conclusion of the 26-day festival yesterday (Aug 16).
“Now that Kuching Festival 2026, or what some call ‘Kuching Fest’, has come to a close, I would like to thank everyone.
“As in the previous year, despite the haze, we had more than one million visitors.
“Thank you to everyone — the visitors, stall owners, sponsors, performers, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) staff, councillors and the Mayor (Dato Wee Hong Seng),” he wrote.
Dr Sim also highlighted an unexpected attraction at this year’s festival — a stall selling plain white rice.
He described the stall as a smart and courageous concept, noting that simplicity and basic food could easily be taken for granted.
He said he had suggested to Wee and the Kuching Festival organising committee that the stall be given a special recognition award.
“I was telling the Mayor and the OC of Kuching Fest that we should give a special recognition award to the ‘White Rice’ stall,” he said, adding that he was told the stall owner was in their 30s.
The Kuching Festival 2026 ran for 26 days from July 22 and concluded on Aug 16. — DayakDaily
