By Christine T
KUCHING, Sept 8: The Sarawak Literature Festival 2026, to be held at the Miri Indoor Stadium and Pustaka Miri from Sept 23 to 27, will showcase the State’s diverse stories, languages, traditions and indigenous knowledge.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the festival went beyond a conventional book fair by bringing together literature, storytelling, culture, education, technology and the creative economy.
He said the event would bring together writers, publishers, educators, libraries, students, cultural practitioners, creative industry players and the community.
“I am very encouraged by these two initiatives because both are closely connected to Sarawak’s wider aspirations in tourism, culture, heritage and the creative industries,” he told a press conference on the festival and Miri’s aspiration to become a UNESCO Creative City of Literature at the ministry’s meeting room in Baitulmakmur Building today.
Abdul Karim said Sarawak’s 34 ethnicities, each with their own cultures and heritage, offered a wealth of stories that could be developed into books as well as films, animation, theatre, digital content, tourism experiences and other creative products.
“Therefore, literature should also be viewed as an important part of our creative economy,” he said.
The festival is a rebranding of three previously separate events, namely the Sarawak Book Fair, Sarawak Authors Festival and Sarawakiana Festival.
Among the highlights are a marketplace featuring books, publishers, bookstores and readers, as well as talks, book launches, workshops, panel discussions, poetry readings and storytelling.
The programme will also feature music, dance, local artisans, performers, food, crafts and creative entrepreneurs.
Abdul Karim said the festival could strengthen the connection between literature, culture, tourism and the creative industry, while providing opportunities for writers, young people and communities to participate.
He also called for greater documentation, translation and publication of stories preserved through oral traditions and community memory to ensure Sarawak’s literary heritage was preserved for future generations.
He said young writers should also be encouraged to produce contemporary works that remained connected to Sarawak’s heritage.
Abdul Karim said the festival could also support Miri’s aspiration to become a UNESCO Creative City of Literature by providing evidence of community participation, youth involvement, partnerships, programme diversity and measurable impact.
“The festival should therefore be well documented, particularly in terms of community participation, youth involvement, partnerships, programme diversity, international engagement and measurable impact,” he said.
He said the ultimate aim should be to build a literary movement that encouraged people to read, write, create, preserve their stories and share Sarawak’s rich heritage with the world. – DayakDaily
