Kuching Festival

A celebration with a sense of place.

Kuching Festival’s 2026 edition ran from 22 July to 16 August at the Kuching South City Council grounds. It marked the festival’s 40th year and the 38th anniversary of Kuching City Day, with the theme ‘Building a Compassionate and Resilient City for a Sustainable Future’. Organisers announced 29 associated events.

The food fair is the anchor. Hundreds of choices make sharing the smartest approach: order one plate at a time, try a few bites and move on. Expect familiar Kuching favourites alongside novelty snacks, grilled seafood, noodles, drinks and desserts.

The wider programme reaches beyond eating. The 2026 calendar included community entertainment and the ASEAN Veteran Basketball Tournament, which welcomed 30 teams from around the region. Festival charity activity also raised almost RM80,000 for 22 organisations.

Crowds build quickly after work and on weekends. Going early gives you cooler queues and time to compare stalls; going later brings the fullest atmosphere. Either way, agree on a meeting point and plan the journey home before mobile networks and roads become busy.

What to look forward to

• A food-led introduction to Kuching’s community life
• A wide choice of stalls to explore at your own pace
• Entertainment and activities listed in the edition’s programme
• A month-long civic celebration around Kuching City Day
• Community, sporting and charity programmes beyond the food fair

Make the most of your visit

1. Check the organiser’s current opening times before setting out.
2. Bring small notes, and ask each stall about ingredients and dietary suitability.
3. Plan your return transport before busy evening periods.
4. Share dishes so you can sample more without wasting food.
5. Photograph food freely, but ask before including vendors in close portraits.