KUCHING: Rock music is poised to become a bigger part of Sarawak’s tourism landscape as organisers of Rock in the City (RiTC) 2026 set their sights on establishing Kuching as a regional destination for international rock concerts.
Festival Director Sunil Mohd Fauzan said the two-day festival, scheduled for 29 and 30 August at Wisma Melayu, is more than another live music event. It is a long-term initiative to grow music tourism, create opportunities for local creative talents and position Sarawak as a preferred venue for major entertainment productions.
“Rock in the City is not just about bringing bands together on one stage. We want it to become a platform that showcases Sarawak’s capability to host international-standard concerts while generating economic opportunities for local businesses and the creative industry,” he said after a courtesy call and press conference with Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan at Bangunan Baitulmakmur II here yesterday (Jul 21).
Sunil said RiTC is the natural progression of the successful Rock in the Jungle series, which was staged twice at the Sarawak Cultural Village, but this year’s move to Wisma Melayu brings the festival into the heart of Kuching, making it more accessible to concertgoers.
Besides entertaining rock enthusiasts, he said the festival is expected to create a ripple effect across the tourism sector through increased demand for hotels, restaurants, transportation services and retail businesses, while providing valuable exposure for local musicians, technical crews and event professionals.
Headlining this year’s festival is legendary Indonesian rock band Peterpan, returning to Sarawak for the first time since 2008. They will be joined by Secret Signal from Brunei, Malaysian rock acts Barbarik, Fearless and Senseless, as well as Sarawak’s own Post Mortem Education, creating a regional line-up that celebrates rock music across Borneo and beyond.
Sunil said the organisers envision Rock in the City becoming one of Sarawak’s signature annual events, with the potential to attract more internationally acclaimed bands in the years ahead.
“Our aspiration is to see Rock in the City grow into one of Borneo’s premier rock festivals. With continued support from the government, industry partners and music fans, we believe Kuching has the potential to become a recognised destination for regional rock concerts,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts for its continued support in strengthening Sarawak’s creative industry and event tourism sector.
Rock in the City 2026 is organised by Authentic Ideas and Event Enterprise (AIEE). Tickets are available now. For ticket purchases, they can be obtained through https://saratic.com/event/rock-in-the-city-2026/
Fans can also follow RiTC 2026 on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates, announcements and behind-the-scenes content.
