KUCHING: Sarawak could one day have its own signature rock music festival listed in the tourism calendar as the government continues to diversify its events portfolio to appeal to different audiences and strengthen the creative economy.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said Rock in the City (RiTC) 2026 has the potential to evolve into an annual tourism attraction, provided it continues to be organised consistently and maintains public support.
“If the event continues to grow and is organised consistently, why not? We can certainly consider proposing it as one of the events in Sarawak’s tourism calendar,” he told reporters after the Rock in the City 2026 press conference here on Tuesday (July 21).
He added that Sarawak has long been recognised for hosting a diverse range of festivals throughout the year, and a dedicated rock music festival would further broaden the State’s tourism offerings while attracting music enthusiasts from both within and outside Sarawak.
“We are not limited to one genre of music. Sarawak hosts jazz, pop, cultural and many other music festivals. A rock festival adds another dimension to our tourism calendar and offers visitors even more reasons to come to Sarawak.”
He noted that this year’s return of legendary Indonesian band Peterpan, making its first performance in Sarawak since 2008, is expected to draw rock fans from across the region and reinforce Sarawak’s reputation as a destination for international live music events.
Beyond entertainment, Snowdan said concerts such as RiTC generate wider economic benefits by increasing demand for hotels, restaurants, transportation services and local businesses, while encouraging visitors to extend their stay and explore Kuching and other attractions across Sarawak.
On government assistance for major events, he stressed that financial allocations provided by the Sarawak government should not be viewed as sponsorships but as support grants aimed at helping organisers deliver quality programmes.
“When private companies provide funding, that is sponsorship. Government funding is different. It is a support grant to help make the event possible.”
He noted that event organisers are still responsible for raising their own funds and covering the majority of the event’s operational costs.
“The government’s role is to support the event and encourage its success but organisers must still take the initiative to secure additional funding, manage the programme and ensure the event is successfully delivered.”
The third edition of RiTC will be held on Aug 29 and 30 at Wisma Melayu, Jalan Diplomatik here, featuring rock acts from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, including Barbarik, Fearless, Senseless, Secret Signal and Postmortem Education.
Event details include band line-ups for Aug 29: Post Mortem Education (Sarawak); Secret Signal (Brunei) and Peterpan (Indonesia), while on Aug 30: Senseless (Sarawak); Fearless (Sarawak/Indonesia) and another rock powerhouse, Barbaric (Kuala Lumpur).
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.
