KUCHING: Heavy rain did not stop thousands of locals and tourists from flocking to the Kuching Waterfront for the Sarawak Countdown 2026 celebration on Wednesday night (Dec. 31).
The wet conditions did not dampen spirits, as families and friends gathered to welcome the New Year together.
Crowds started gathering at the Kuching Waterfront from around 5:00 pm, showcasing the public’s excitement for the significant celebration.
The festive atmosphere was further enhanced by live screenings on additional LED screens set up around Padang Merdeka, allowing more visitors to enjoy the event.
A key highlight driving the excitement was this year’s fireworks and laser projection show, which offered a spectacular visual treat.
In a historic first, attendees also witnessed Sarawak achieving the Guinness World Record for the Longest Cumulative Distance by a Remote-Controlled Multirotor/Drone Relay.
The record-setting journey spanned 1,706.7 kilometres across Sarawak over six days, using successive GPS-tracked drones to create an unbroken aerial path from Tanjung Datu to Lawas.
The celebrations were capped by a standout performance from Indonesian singer Judika, who performed several hit songs.
Popular Malaysian artists, including KRU, Dayang Nurfaizah, Jatt Ali and Naqiu, also took to the stage to close out 2025, while local talents, Mawat, Ng Chien Chien, Meera Zada, Carrie Geres, Razali Sa’at and Jolly Jengan, delivered equally captivating performances for the crowd.
Among the dignitaries present were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi; Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian representing the Premier of Sarawak; and Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
