KUCHING: The New Year Countdown 2026 is expected to draw at least 20,000 spectators to the Kuching Waterfront here.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the turnout projection reflects the continued appeal of celebrating New Year’s Eve at the state’s main public gathering point.
“My estimate is more than 20,000 but it depends on the weather. If the weather is good, maybe 20,000 to 30,000. That is why we open the waterfront from the wharf all the way to the Grand Margherita Hotel. There will be vendors selling. We want it to be lively,” he added.
Abdul Karim said this during a press conference on the event today.
He said the state government aims to make this year’s celebration, scheduled for December 31, 2025, one of the grandest yet as Sarawak wraps up its achievements in 2025 and ushers in 2026 with renewed energy.
Presented under the theme ‘Feasta’, the programme will run from 8:00 pm until about 2:00 am and will be divided into three main segments: pre-show, main performance and post-show entertainment.
This year’s celebration will also be attended by Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“This will be a grand welcome. We have done a lot. The government has done a lot. We have achieved a lot in 2025. It is only fair to celebrate 2026 and the end of 2025,” Abdul Karim added.
He said the pre-show segment from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm will feature local bands, ethnic and creative dance troupes, and a line-up of Sarawakian singers, including Gabriel Mawat, M. Chin Chin, May Razada, Gary Garris, Razali Sangat and Jolie Jengan.
He added that the official segment from 10:00 pm to midnight will see performances by prominent Malaysian artists, including KRU, Dayang Nurfaizah, Chad Ali and Naqib.
“We specifically chose artists who appeal across all age groups. We want everyone, young and old, to truly enjoy the celebration,” he shared.
A major highlight of this year’s countdown is the launch of the Gateway to Sarawak Drone Relay, which recently received recognition from the Guinness World Records for the longest GPS journey.
“This is one of the ways we want to promote and showcase Sarawak. The drone will fly from Kuching to the Sabah border and will stop by towns and cities to be presented to the world,” Abdul Karim pointed out.
“We will launch this as well on that night because we just received the Guinness World Record recognition for this drone relay.”
Following the midnight countdown and fireworks display, the celebration will continue with a post-show concert featuring Indonesian star, Judika, supported by KRU.
“Because of the expected large turnout, we will install additional LED screens, both at the waterfront and at Padang Merdeka, to ensure the public can enjoy the show comfortably,” Abdul Karim said.
On traffic management, he urged revellers to carpool and use designated parking facilities to reduce congestion in the city centre.
Parking will be available at Medan Pelita, Plaza Aurora, Plaza Merdeka, Hikmah Exchange, Sarawak Islamic Complex, Borneo Cultural Museum, Bangunan Saujana and UTC, while free parking will be provided at Reservoir Park, Jalan Haji Taha, Jalan Jawa and the Hopoh area.
He also encouraged those coming from Petra Jaya to park at Pangkalan Sapi or the State Legislative Assembly car park and cross the S-Bridge before 8:00 pm.
The bridge will be closed after that due to crowd safety concerns.
“We do not want too many people on the bridge at one time. By closing it after 8pm, we can manage crowd flow and avoid unnecessary risks,” said Abdul Karim.
He said the highlight of any countdown is the spectacle at midnight, and Sarawak will be no exception.
“A countdown without fireworks or laser displays is not a countdown. Like anywhere in the world, we will also have a spectacular fireworks display for the public,” he added.
