Festival Gendang Sarawak (FGS) 2026: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Kuching)

Drums on the Sarawak River

The gendang is a hand drum, and this festival is built around it. For five nights, from October 28 to November 1, 2026, the Kuching Waterfront hosts Sarawak’s traditional drumming alongside two Malay performing arts, Bermukun and Bertandak.

Bermukun pairs drum rhythms with sung verses, usually pantun, the Malay quatrain form. Bertandak is the dance that moves to the same beat. Delegations from Indonesian Kalimantan and Brunei also perform. All three places share Borneo and much of the same Malay musical tradition, so you can hear how one drumming culture varies across three borders.

Finding the stage at Kuching Waterfront

The waterfront is a paved promenade along the south bank of the Sarawak River, facing the old city. Behind it runs Main Bazaar, a row of shophouses selling handicrafts and pepper. Across the water are:

• Fort Margherita, the white Brooke-era fort
• The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building, with its golden umbrella-shaped roof
• Darul Hana Bridge, the S-shaped pedestrian bridge linking both banks

Kuching International Airport sits south of the city, a short taxi or Grab ride from the waterfront. Most hotels in the old centre are walkable to the promenade. From the north bank, cross on Darul Hana Bridge or take a tambang, the small wooden river ferry. The festival’s stage position along the promenade can change between editions, so confirm the exact venue on the official source.

Tickets, timing and weather

Confirm timing and tickets on the official festival channels. Nothing in the verified details sets performance times or admission, and this guide will not guess at either. The official source is also where any changes of venue or schedule are posted.

Late October falls at the start of Kuching’s wetter northeast monsoon season. Heavy afternoon and evening downpours are common. Pack a compact umbrella or a light rain jacket, since an open-air riverfront offers little shelter. Plan at least one full evening. If you want to compare the Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei performances, spread your visits across two or three nights.

Watching a gendang night properly

These are cultural performances first, so audience habits follow Malay community norms.

• Dress modestly. Covered shoulders and knees are respectful, and sensible for mosquitoes by the river.
• Keep the floor clear. Bertandak needs space. Stand where the crowd stands, not in the dancers’ path.
• Skip the flash. Bright flashes during a performance distract both drummers and dancers.
• Listen for the verses. Much of Bermukun’s appeal is in the sung pantun. Choose a spot close enough to hear the singer, not just the drums.

For getting around, Grab is the standard ride-hailing app in Kuching and is easy to use from the waterfront. Food stalls and small shops along Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street often prefer cash, so carry ringgit for snacks.

Before the evening programme, eat in the old town. Sarawak laksa, made with a sambal-based broth rather than curry, is a breakfast and lunch staple. Kolo mee, springy noodles tossed rather than served in soup, is easy to find. After the drums finish, the lit-up Assembly building across the river makes the walk back along the promenade worth taking slowly.