By Christine T
KUCHING, Nov 13: Sarawak is looking at expanding its Borneo Indigenous Festival into a larger international cultural platform with plans to introduce a World Indigenous Festival next year, says Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Speaking at the Borneo Indigenous Festival 2026 at Hikmah Exchange event centre, the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts said the proposed expansion reflected the festival’s growing reach and potential to showcase indigenous cultures on a global stage.
He said the State government was pleased to see the festival attracting increasing participation and developing into a bigger platform for cultural exchange.
“I am happy that the Borneo Indigenous Festival is growing, and as informed by the chief executive officer earlier, there are plans next year to have a World Indigenous Festival in addition to Borneo Indigenous Festival,” he said at the event where he represented Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abdul Karim said the development would take Sarawak’s cultural showcase to a wider international platform, creating greater opportunities for indigenous communities to present their heritage, traditional arts, crafts, and cultural practices to the world.
He also pointed to the potential of the expanded Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK 2), which he said would be able to accommodate up to 10,000 delegates.
He envisioned the facility potentially serving as a venue for exhibitions featuring food, handicrafts, beads and other creative industry products, as well as forums and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Such facilities, he said, could provide more opportunities for cultural practitioners, artisans and creative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and gain exposure to international markets.
Borneo Indigenous Festival 2026, held from Nov 12 to 15, brings together cultural performers, artists, and indigenous communities through cultural performances, art exhibitions, knowledge-sharing sessions, and creative entrepreneurship activities.
The festival also features participation from Sabah, Labuan, and Indonesia through programmes such as Echoes of Borneo, strengthening cultural exchanges among communities across the region. — DayakDaily
