Labuan: More than 30,000 visitors are expected to attend the Borneo Arts Festival (BAF) 2026 from Sept 25 to 27, making it one of Labuan's major arts and cultural events this year. Organised by Labuan Corporation (LC), the three-day festival at the Financial Park Complex Convention Centre will feature a wide range of cultural, artistic, and community-based programmes showcasing Borneo's creative heritage.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Rithuan Ismail said the festival was expected to attract visitors from Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak, other parts of the peninsula, as well as Brunei and Indonesia. He mentioned that the influx of visitors was expected to give a boost to Labuan's tourism sector and local economy. "We estimate that more than 30,000 people will visit Labuan throughout the festival period, and we hope the event will create a vibrant atmosphere across the island while giving visitors the opportunity to experience the richness of Borneo's arts and culture," he told Bernama.
Rithuan highlighted that BAF 2026 would feature several major competitions and performances, including the Borneo Creative Dance competition, Tingkah Geruh Dance Battle, Jogethon, the National Creative Costume Fashion Design competition, and the Sound of Borneo solo instrumental competition. The festival will also feature performances by invited artistes, visual arts exhibitions and workshops, a Borneo handicraft exhibition and sales, an artisan market, and Labuan Corporation's Customer Day.
Other programmes include the National Language Decade programme and the Citra Minda Intergenerational Programme. Rithuan said the line-up would provide a platform for artists, cultural performers, craftsmen, and creative industry players, while enabling the public to appreciate the different traditions and artistic expressions found across Borneo.
"BAF is not merely about performances. It is also a platform to bring communities together, provide exposure to local creative talents, and create economic opportunities for traders, artisans, and tourism-related businesses. With the expected influx of visitors, we also hope the festival will generate positive spillover for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, retailers, and other local businesses," he noted.
Rithuan expressed that Labuan Corporation hoped the festival would strengthen Labuan's position as a destination for cultural and event-based tourism, while encouraging greater interaction among communities across Borneo. The festival will culminate with its closing ceremony on Sept 27, scheduled to be officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh. "We want visitors to come to Labuan not only to attend the festival, but also to discover the island, its people, and what it has to offer," he added.