Borneo Arts Festival 2025 Returns With Fresh Ideas And Bigger Line-Up

LABUAN, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Arts Festival (BAF) is set to return this November with a fresh approach and exciting new elements, promising to make it one of the most memorable events of the year.

Labuan Corporation (LC) chairman Datuk Mohd Husni Mohamad Salleh said the 12th edition of the festival would not only continue its legacy of celebrating Borneo’s rich cultural heritage but would also inject new features to appeal to a wider audience and elevate Labuan’s tourism profile.

“Since its inception in 2010, the Borneo Arts Festival has become a strong platform for showcasing the uniqueness of Borneo’s art and culture. 

“With the new programmes this year, we are confident it will bring fresh energy, foster creativity, and position Labuan as a vibrant cultural hub within the BIMP-EAGA region (Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area),” he said at the festival’s pre-launch ceremony here today.

Scheduled for Nov 13 to 17 at Labuan International Sea Sports Complex, this year’s festival carries the theme ‘Warisan Seni Borneo’ (Borneo Arts Heritage). 

The line-up includes stage and visual art performances, fashion showcases, an ethnic village, fusion music, heritage art displays, traditional top-spinning demonstrations, a ‘secret garden’, Borneo food tasting, cultural competitions, and live performances by regional artists.

Recognised as a signature tourism event under the BIMP-EAGA cluster, the BAF continues to attract performers and enthusiasts from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Beyond performances, the festival aims to provide a platform for young talents, sustain cultural traditions, and serve as a meeting point for regional artists. Organisers also hope the refreshed programme will act as a catalyst for Labuan’s cultural development and tourism-driven economic growth.

The 2025 edition is jointly supported by agencies under the Federal Territories Department (JWP), including LC, Putrajaya Corporation, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Kampong Bharu Development Corporation and Federal Territories Sports Council, with collaboration from the Ministry of National Unity, the Sabah branch of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, and the Federal Territories Youth and Sports Department, alongside local government and private sector partners.

--BERNAMA