KUCHING: The 3rd Lien Heng Cup is targeting about 30 teams this year as it seeks to draw greater interest in traditional Southern Lion Dance.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the target was to surpass last year’s participation of 23 teams.
“We hope to increase this year. The target is not to be less than 23, it’s best to reach 30. So we hope to attract more people. Not for the prize, but for our traditional culture.
“I also hope that the Lian Heng Cup will continue to develop into one of the Sarawak’s leading traditional Southern Lion Dance championships with international recognition and influence,” he said.
He was speaking at a media conference on the 3rd Lien Heng Cup-Lien Heng Lion Dance Open Championship 2026 and the 2nd “Lion Spirit” Photography Competition at MBKS here, today.
The championship will be held at The Hills, Kuching on Sept 26 and 27, featuring the Traditional Southern Lion Dance (Optional Ground Routine) category.
“The championship is expected to attract Lion Dance teams from across Sarawak, Sabah, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
“These teams will gather in Kuching to exchange knowledge, showcase their skills and compete for the highest honour of being crowned the King of Lions,” he said.
Wee said this year’s traditional Southern Lion Dance ground routine competition offered a total cash prize pool of RM25,500, including RM8,000 for the champion.
This year, the traditional Southern Lion Dance ground routine competition offers a total cash prize pool of RM25,500, including RM8,000 for the champion.
Meanwhile, the 2nd ‘Lion Spirit’ Photography Contest will be held concurrently with the championship, featuring three categories namely professional camera photography, mobile phone photography and short-form video.
The photography contest carries a separate RM4,000 cash prize pool, bringing the combined cash prizes for both events to RM29,500.
The contest, he added, would provide photography enthusiasts with an opportunity to capture exciting, powerful and culturally meaningful moments of the lion dance.
“I would like to invite all the members of the public to join and support all the participating team and witness the crowning of the next King of Lions,” he said.
