Sultan of Selangor to return for RWMF 2026, Perlis royalty also expected

From left: Morshidi, Snowdan, Ting, Sharzede and Norhyati photographed during a press conference after the RWMF 2026 Sponsors’ Appreciation Day at Sheraton Hotel Kuching on May 21, 2026.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, May 21: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, will once again grace the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2026 next month, with royalty from Perlis also expected to attend.

Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, said the participation of royal guests underscores the festival’s growing stature as an internationally recognised cultural platform.

“We’re very honoured again. His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor will be coming over. This will be his second consecutive attendance, following his visit in 2024 when he attended the festival for two days.

“Perlis royalty is likely to come over as well,” Ting told reporters after the RWMF 2026 Sponsors’ Appreciation Day at Sheraton Hotel Kuching today.

He added that RWMF continues to attract strong interest from both local and international audiences, with organisers targeting more than 25,000 visitors for the three-day festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village from June 26 to 28.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor said RWMF 2026 will feature a strong international lineup, including first-time participation from Uzbekistan following recent cultural collaborations.

“We do bring in new groups. Uzbekistan is our latest addition this year, and we also have performers from Mongolia, Korea, Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,” she said.

Sharzede said this year’s headliners include Malaysian music icon Dato M Nasir, American funk band Commodores, and British acid jazz group Incognito.

She added that RWMF continues to be more than just a music festival, highlighting workshops, cultural exchanges, and sustainability-focused activities.

“We start as early as 10am and go until midnight. Many people think RWMF is just about music, but there are workshops, cultural interactions, and many other experiences,” she said.

Sharzede also noted that sustainability remains a key focus, including initiatives such as solar-powered installations and eco-friendly programmes across the festival site.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick, and Sarawak Media Group chairwoman Datuk Norhyati Mohd Ismail. — DayakDaily