By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 17: Liew San Kheng emerged as the champion in the Contemporary & Urban Dance category at Kuching’s Got Talent 2026, held in conjunction with Kuching Festival 2026 last night (Aug 16).
Liew took the top spot in the category, followed by Freaky 4 group in second place and Nova group in third.
The win was among five category championships awarded at the talent competition, which also featured three singing categories based on age groups and the Cultural & Classical Dance category.
The other category winners were Jackvin Chai Chang Wei in Singing Open (19 years old and above), Nikki Kung Tze Ying in Singing Youth (13-18 years old), Edmund Chin Ying Hung in Singing Junior (6-12 years old), and Sunflower group in Cultural & Classical Dance.
Speaking at the finale, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the competition was not merely about finding champions, but also about providing a platform to nurture talent and build confidence, especially among young people.
Wee said the competition was also in line with MBKS’ Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI), which encourages young people to be active, confident and involved in the community.
“Nowadays, it is very easy for our children and young people to stay at home with their phones, tablets, and gadgets.
“But we want to encourage them to come out, meet people, connect with people, make friends, interact with one another, and discover what they can do,” he said.
Wee said stepping onto the stage in front of a large audience itself required courage and confidence.
“To all the contestants tonight, whether you go home with a trophy or not, you are already a winner.
“You had the courage to step onto this stage, you had the confidence to show everyone your talent. That itself is already an achievement,” he added.
Wee also encouraged contestants who did not win this year to return and participate again next year, while thanking the judges who travelled from outside Kuching and Sarawak for contributing their time and professional experience.
He also expressed appreciation to Sports Toto for its continued support of Kuching Festival for more than 20 years. — DayakDaily
