Miri Arts Festival promises diverse showcase of ethnic, creative arts

MIRI (Dec 5): The Miri Arts Festival 2025 (MAF’25) is set to return for its second edition on New Year’s eve, promising a bigger and more vibrant showcase of ethnic and contemporary arts as the city ushers in the new year.

The five-day festival will run from Dec 31 to Jan 4 at the Miri City Stadium (Indoor) and its adjacent car park area, offering a comprehensive celebration of Sarawak’s artistic and cultural identity.

MAF’25 chairman Mohd Hafidz Rohani, who also heads the Miri branch of the Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Chamber (DUBS), said the event will serve as the highlight of Miri’s year-end festivities.

“MAF’25 will be the main event for Miri’s 2026 New Year celebration, focusing on the rich manifestations of ethnic arts, culture and creativity, especially featuring Sarawakian artists,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Carrying the theme ‘Identiti Kita, Sarawak Kita’, this year’s edition features five main segments—Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Arts Market, Arts Discourse, and Arts Competitions—offering festival-goers a diverse and immersive experience.

Festival founder Azeez Salleh said MAF continues to serve as a strong collaborative platform between the community, private sector and government agencies in strengthening the northern Sarawak arts ecosystem.

Organised by DUBS Miri in collaboration with AX Events, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, Sarawak Tourism Board and Miri City Council, the festival aims to further position Miri as a Borneo arts and cultural hub.

MAF’25 will also support young creators and local art communities while contributing to Sarawak’s cultural tourism through the promotion of Bornean arts to national and international audiences.

Members of the public are invited to enjoy exhibitions, performances, creative markets and competitions featuring talents from across Sarawak, Borneo and beyond.