The 10 Most Exciting Events To Check Out At KL Festival 2026
As recommended by June Tan, artistic director of this year’s KL Fest.
From 6 to 31 May 2026, downtown Kuala Lumpur is poised to become a tapestry of culture and movement. Kreatif KL, which drew more than 140,000 visitors in 2024, returns this year as KL Festival (KL Fest). Twenty-five venues—including heritage buildings, public spaces, and streets—will play host to more than 80 events and more than 700 hours of programming. These include a joget marathon, reimagined wayang kulit, contemporary dance, a disabled-led theatre production, film screenings, a walk to search for otters, and more.
The festival was brought together by Dato’ Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Managing Director of Think City, which catalysed the establishment of George Town Festival together with the Penang State Government and the Penang Island City Council. Serving as Artistic Director of KL Fest is June Tan, a producer and scriptwriter who has also curated numerous platforms for the arts scene in KL and across the globe.
Speaking to Robb Report Malaysia, Tan shares some programmes to look out for:
Jogeton
Date: 9 May 2026
Venue: Dataran Merdeka
“We’re kicking off with the Jogeton, which is a competition where people are encouraged to dance non-stop for 90 minutes. In the final 15 minutes, judges will evaluate the remaining dancers and award the winner a prize of RM3,000. People can come down with their families and joget along without competing too.”
Dance the Walk
Date: 9 (Sold Out), 17, & 30 May 2026 | Ticketed
Venue: Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque
“We have a surprising number of walks for KL Fest. For Dance the Walk, participants will go to special heritage sites, learn about its history, and do a little dance that reflects its cultural, social, and historical identity. For example, you’ll get to try out some basic Indian dance steps right at the temple.”
Wayang Women Live in Dataran
Date: 16 May 2026
Venue: Dataran Merdeka
“It’s the first time a huge wayang kulit show is being held at Dataran Merdeka, and the first all-female Southeast Asian wayang kulit troupe will be performing right at the centre.”
Pending by January Low
Date: 16–17 May 2026
Venue: Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall | Ticketed Event
“Low’s performance is about what it means to be a contemporary female dancer of Odissi and how her role evolves from dancer to mother.”
The Storyteller – Oi Jia: Directed by Lay Chin
Date: 16–17 May 2026
Venue: Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall
“We have three monologues from three female performers. They speak about what it means to be a contemporary woman: one about motherhood, one about the body, and the other about history and the body. It’s set in an ancestral hall, so it’s almost like they’re telling stories from the present day to their ancestors.”
The Lessons of Silence
Date: 22 to 23 May 2026 | Ticketed Event
“This piece looks at a social event in Jakarta’s history from the point of view of a 10-year-old, which explores themes of race, class, and the intimate dynamics between children and parents.”
Berkelah Di Dataran – Tiffin Picnic
Date: 23 May 2026
“People are encouraged to bring their own tiffin carriers filled with food to have a picnic, so it will be a fun gathering for the community. There will also be a free film screening.”
Siapa Cacat?
Date: 23 to 24 May 2026 | Ticketed Event
“Comprising disabled performers, the performance sets out to reclaim the word cacat, which is typically used as a slur. It reframes disability as culture, aesthetics, and creativity, while commenting on the stigma faced by the disabled community in Malaysia.”
Fragments of Tuah by Mark Teh and Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri
Date: 23 to 24 May 2026 | Ticketed Event
“This looks at two very famous texts that we learned about in school, The Malay Annals and Hikayat Hang Tuah. Rather than being about Hang Tuah, it’s really about how we look at history and how it shapes our perspectives and outlook. They last toured to the Kyoto Experiment in 2025, and they’re going to perform at Esplanade Singapore in July.”
The Story of Thai Contemporary Dance: Chapter 2
Date: 30 to 31 May 2026 | Ticketed Event
“One of Southeast Asia’s most acclaimed choreographers, Pichet Klunchun, explores whether artificial intelligence can teach him how to dance.”
Organised by Think City and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and supported by the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Territories Department (Prime Minister’s Department), KL Fest is held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, Warisan KL, and Kuala Lumpur’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Design.
Image credits: Pam Lim, Transhallow, Djakarta International Theatre Platform
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