Kelantan Arts Festival Expects Over 100,000 Visitors, Promotes State’s Cultural Heritage

KOTA BHARU, June 9 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan Arts Festival (FKRK) 2026 is targeting an attendance of around 150,000 visitors over its four-day run from July 1 to 4 at the Tok Bali Tourist Jetty in Pasir Puteh.

State National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) director Rohaniza Abdullah said the festival, now in its ninth edition, serves as a major platform to showcase Kelantan’s arts, culture and heritage to both locals and visitors.

She said the festival will run daily from 10 am to 11 pm, featuring a range of programmes that highlight the state’s unique cultural heritage, including dikir barat, makyong, wayang kulit, rebana ubi, kertok, martial arts, traditional music, and multicultural performances.

“We are also organising various competitions and community activities to give visitors a closer experience of Kelantan’s cultural heritage,” she told Bernama after paying a visit to its Kelantan office here today.

She said visitors can take part in activities such as baling tin, decok, biddah, konda kondi, silat tari, decorated kolek, ayam serama displays, traditional cooking, and pulut sirih junjung arrangements.

Rohaniza said the festival will also showcase demonstrations of traditional games such as wau bercahaya, sepak raga bakul, tarik upih, skipping, archery and coconut-shell racing, many of which are largely unknown to the younger generation.

There will also be a range of exhibition and sales areas under segments such as Pasar Melayu Klasik, Foodie Fest and Wakaf Seni Budaya, alongside government agency showcases and local entrepreneurs, as well as sharing sessions with social media influencer “Biso Demo Mek Yun” and several successful Kelantan-born business figures.

She said the festival, themed “Pakat Mari Belako, Tengok Mene Kito,” aims to highlight Kelantan’s artistic and cultural identity, while giving artists a platform to showcase their creativity.

“At the same time, the festival serves as a platform to promote traditional arts as a tourism product, drawing more visitors to Kelantan and helping to stimulate the local economy,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said the festival, jointly organised by JKKN and the state government, has received strong backing from 20 sponsors committed to ensuring its success.

Kamaruddin said the festival’s location at the Tok Bali Tourist Jetty offers added value for visitors, as those heading to Pulau Perhentian can also make use of boat services operating from the jetty.

-- BERNAMA