Miri Art Fest 2.0 set to bring excitement to city’s New Year countdown

MIRI (Dec 29): The local chapter of Chamber of Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs (DUBS) will host Miri Art Festival (MAF) 2.0, set to run from Dec 31 to Jan 4 at the indoor stadium here.

The upcoming edition is set to become a new benchmark in the celebration of arts, culture and entrepreneurship, with the activities set to coincide with the New Year 2026’s Countdown.

DUBS Miri, in a statement yesterday, said the festival would be a vibrant programme, set with a strong focus on the rich ethnic diversity of Sarawak.

“The core of the event is a cultural exhibition featuring seven major ethnic groups in Miri, represented by the participating associations, namely: Persatuan Leto Kenyah Miri, Persatuan Wanita Telang Usan, Persatuan Jatti Mierek Miri, Persatuan Melayu Miri, Persatuan Melanau Miri, Persatuan Berawan Miri, and Persatuan Penan Miri,” it said.

Adding colours to the event would be a ‘Fusion Dance Competition’, where eight top dance groups will stage creative choreographies blending traditional and contemporary elements – all vying for the attractive prizes amounting RM6,000.

For culinary enthusiasts, the ‘Black Box Cooking Competition’ is expected to be a major crowd-puller. The challenge has so far registered 20 group entries.

“It challenges creativity, as each participant must create a dish using a ‘mystery’ main ingredient, which will only be revealed moments before the competition kicks off,” said DUBS Miri.

The highlight will be the countdown on Dec 31, where renowned artistes such as Ayai Ilusi, Sharman, Nizarddin, Adik Abbiy and Bobby Laing (Kenyah) will add excitement to the event.

“The festival is not only a platform for entertainment, but also a space to appreciate cultural heritage and support local entrepreneurs,” added DUBS Miri.