Borneo Tuak Festival returns July 17-19 with over 60 tuak brands in major cultural showcase

Ting (centre) and the organiser during a press conference on the Borneo Tuak Festival at MTCP Office on June 26, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 26: The much-anticipated Borneo Tuak Festival (BTF) 2026 will return from July 17 to 19 at 11 Ridgeway Kuching, bringing together more than 60 confirmed tuak brands, food entrepreneurs, artisans, cultural practitioners and performers in one of Borneo’s largest celebrations of traditional rice fermentation, gastronomy and culture.

This year’s edition marks a significant milestone as the festival becomes the first flagship programme under the newly established Borneo Rice & Gastronomy Festival (BRGF), a regional initiative by the BIMP-EAGA Sarawak Association (BESA), supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP).

Speaking at the official announcement, Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting said the festival reflects Sarawak’s commitment to preserving heritage while creating economic opportunities for local communities.

“Through festivals like this, we are not only preserving our traditions, but also creating opportunities for rural communities, indigenous entrepreneurs, artisans and cultural practitioners,” he said.

“By celebrating what is uniquely ours, we strengthen Sarawak’s tourism offerings and share our culture with the world in a meaningful way,” he said in a media release.

The Borneo Rice & Gastronomy Festival (BRGF) aims to celebrate Borneo’s shared rice heritage while promoting gastronomy, cultural exchange, entrepreneurship and tourism across the BIMP-EAGA region.

Beyond festivals, the initiative also envisions future programmes such as gastronomy fellowships, chef exchange initiatives, research collaborations and regional partnerships.

For organiser SAGO Group, the festival continues to evolve beyond a cultural showcase into an economic empowerment platform.

“When Datuk Sebastian first shared his vision of a festival dedicated to tuak, what excited us was not the idea of organising another festival.

“It was the opportunity to elevate tuak as part of Sarawak’s cultural heritage, create market access for rural communities, and showcase something that is uniquely our own,” said Managing Director Ehon Chan.

The previous edition of the festival drew more than 10,000 visitors and featured over 100 varieties of tuak from across Borneo.

Organisers said the event also generated strong economic spillover, with top-performing vendors earning more than RM7,000 in sales over the three-day event.

Ting added that the impact of the festival is already visible among local producers.

“We are seeing brewers improve not only the quality of their tuak, but also how they package and present it.

“Products once sold in plastic bottles for around RM30 are now professionally branded and sold in glass bottles for RM50, and in some cases up to RM80. This shows how culture, when given the right platform, can create greater value for our communities,” he said.

Visitors to Borneo Tuak Festival 2026 can expect a wide range of programmes, including more than 60 vendors, with 40 confirmed tuak brands from Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur, while participation from Sabah is being finalised.

The festival will also feature traditional and contemporary food offerings by local entrepreneurs, an arts and crafts marketplace, and a strong line-up of performances.

Among the performers confirmed are legendary Sarawak rock band Acid Rain, award-winning Iban recording artiste Melissa Francis, and acts including Alex Wan, local band Fly High, and MND.

Cultural showcases will feature renowned Iban poet Lin Asit, musician Peter Rining Paris, and traditional performances by AKA Dambai Legacy and the Academy of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association.

One of the festival highlights will be the hands-on Tuak Making Workshop, where participants will learn traditional fermentation techniques and bring home the tuak they produce themselves. Organisers said additional cultural demonstrations and interactive heritage experiences will also be featured.

Vendor registrations remain open until July 5, 2026, with organisers encouraging brewers, food entrepreneurs, artisans and community businesses to secure their booths early.

Members of the public are invited to experience Borneo’s rich food heritage and cultural diversity at the festival, which will run from 11am to 10pm daily at 11 Ridgeway Kuching from July 17 to 19. — DayakDaily