BIF 2026 TO SHOWCASE BORNEO’S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE
KUCHING, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Indigenous Festival (BIF) 2026 will bring together the diverse arts, culture and heritage of Borneo’s communities over four days from Nov 12 at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the festival played an important role in preserving and promoting traditional arts and cultural heritage, ensuring their continuity among younger generations, as well as supporting the development of the state’s creative industry and tourism sector.
“BIF 2026 also provides a platform for various ethnic groups, artists, cultural practitioners, educational institutions and creative communities to network, collaborate and share expertise.
“The festival reflects the Sarawak Government’s commitment to strengthening the development of the creative industry and elevating arts and cultural heritage as important state assets,” he told a press conference in conjunction with BIF 2026 here.
Seven main events will be featured throughout the festival, including the Knowledge Conference, Echoes of Borneo, Malay Traditional Dance and Song Festival, Ngelakar Seni Premium, Ruai Sarawak, Mini Show and Market Seni.
He said Echoes of Borneo was expected to be a major attraction, featuring traditional dance and music performances as well as ethnic costumes, with the participation of Sanggar Andari from Indonesia, the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) from Sabah and the Labuan Corporation Dance Group.
-- BERNAMA
