Judika to headline Sarawak’s New Year Countdown 2026 at Kuching Waterfront

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By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Dec 12: Indonesian powerhouse vocalist Judika will take centre stage at Sarawak’s “New Year Countdown 2026” celebration on Dec 31, headlining a star-studded New Year’s Eve party at Kuching Waterfront.

Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Judika—one of Indonesia’s most iconic singers with hundreds of millions of views on his hit songs—will be the main draw for this year’s celebration.

“We brought Judika here during the Borneo Sonic Music Festival (BSMF) 2024 and his performance was truly entertaining. Everybody was so happy. That’s one of the reasons we want to bring him back,” he said at a press conference at Baitul Makmur II today.

Judika’s hits include ‘Aku Yang Tersakiti’, ‘Bagaimana Kalau Aku’, ‘Putus Atau Terus’ and ‘Cinta Karena Cinta’.

With the theme “Fiesta”, the event will kick off at 8pm with a lively pre-show featuring Sarawak’s local talents, including Gabriel Mawat, Ng Chien Chien, Meera Zada, Carrie Geres, Razali Sa’at and Jolly Jengan, alongside cultural and creative dance performances.

The official segment, starting at 10pm, will spotlight Malaysian favourites KRU, Dayang Nurfaizah, Jatt Ali (Black Dog Bone)** and Naqiu, leading into a musical fireworks spectacle at midnight to welcome 2026.

Abdul Karim also revealed that big LED screens will be placed at Padang Merdeka to cater to the large crowds expected that night.

Another highlight will be a special drone relay showcase titled “Gateway to Sarawak”, held in conjunction with Sarawak’s Guinness World Record achievement for the ‘Longest GPS Journey by Drone Relay’.

“The drone will fly from Kuching to the Sabah border, stopping by several cities and towns to be showcased to the world. This drone will also be used for promotions at ITB Berlin, World Travel Market (WTM) London, IMEX Frankfurt and other international events,” he said.

At the same time, Abdul Karim urged the public to carpool to the venue and suggested those coming from Petra Jaya park at Pengkalan Sapi or Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex and walk to Kuching Waterfront via the Darul Hana Bridge.

“Crossing the Darul Hana Bridge should be done before 8pm as it will be closed afterwards to avoid overcrowding. The bridge can only accommodate about 800 people at a time.

“On city roads, road closures will begin at 4pm on Dec 31, so plan your journey early. Public parking is available at Medan Pelita, Plaza Aurora, Plaza Merdeka, Hikmah Exchange, Kompleks Islam Sarawak, Borneo Cultures Museum, Saujana and UTC,” he added.

Abdul Karim expects 20,000 to 30,000 members of the public to attend, making it one of Sarawak’s most electrifying New Year celebrations yet.

The event will be attended by Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, as well as Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. – DayakDaily

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