Putrajaya: The National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebration will be held in Penang this June and is anticipated to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as announced by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi mentioned that while the location is confirmed to be in Penang, the exact date and venue are still being finalized. The announcement was made during a media briefing after the Prime Minister's breaking of fast event with media practitioners and influencers.

Last year, the HAWANA 2025 celebration took place at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL), serving as a crucial platform to acknowledge the contributions of media practitioners in Malaysia and to strengthen the journalism ecosystem. The upcoming event, themed "Journalism in the New Era: Balancing AI and Ethics," is anticipated to be the largest gathering of Malaysian media professionals. It is organized by the Ministry of Communications, with Bernama acting as the implementing agency.

Previous HAWANA celebrations have been hosted in Melaka, Ipoh, and Kuching. Earlier at the Seri Perdana Complex, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived at 6:20 pm and engaged in a Ramadan tazkirah titled "Ramadan: Fastabiqul Khairat" delivered by Al-Fadhil Ustaz Harryanto Rizal Rokman.

The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, and other key officials from the Ministry of Communications and Bernama. After breaking their fast, the Prime Minister and attendees participated in the Maghrib prayer, led by Sinar Islam editor Ustaz Muhamad Tarmize Mohd Nor.