The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2026 is underway at the Sarawak Cultural Village, bringing together more than 200 performers from 13 countries for a three-day programme that blends music, cultural exchange and sustainability-driven initiatives.
Set against the backdrop of Mount Santubong, the festival, running from June 26 to 28 and under the theme “Regenerations: Roots & Rhythms”, reflects a balance between cultural heritage and contemporary expression.
Opening-day activities on June 26 included a walkabout by Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who reviewed key festival components spanning sustainability showcases, food offerings and community engagement zones.
A central feature of this year’s edition is Green Ruai, a dedicated sustainability platform highlighting environmental innovation and community-led solutions. Exhibits include DBKU’s E-Penambang concept at the lake area, alongside renewable energy displays, waste management initiatives and other green technology demonstrations integrated into the festival setting.
The programme extends beyond performances, with more than 50 workshops and interactive sessions across the grounds, including music and dance classes, cultural storytelling, wellness activities and craft demonstrations. Organisers say the format is designed to encourage closer engagement between artists, traditions and audiences.
Food and cultural identity are also highlighted through Rainforest Flavours at the Global Village Pavilion, which showcases culinary traditions from the BIMP-EAGA and ASEAN regions. The activation runs alongside more than 50 food and beverage vendors offering a mix of local and international cuisine.
The opening night featured a performance by Malaysian music icon Datuk M Nasir, setting the tone for a weekend of cross-cultural performances spanning global and regional music traditions.
Sustainability remains embedded in the festival’s operations, with structured waste segregation, EcoStations across the site and the EcoGreen Planet tree-planting initiative, which has contributed more than 6,000 trees since 2023.
RWMF 2026 continues through the weekend, reinforcing Sarawak’s positioning as a regional hub for cultural tourism where music, environment and community intersect in a single festival setting.
