Sabah Fest 2026

Sabah Fest is an annual celebration of Sabah’s extraordinary ethnic diversity, typically held in May in Kota Kinabalu. Sabah is home to 32 officially recognised ethnic groups - Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Rungus, Lundayeh, and many more - and the festival brings their traditional cultures together in one place.

Held at Sabah Cultural Centre (Pusat Kebudayaan Sabah) in KK, the festival features traditional song and dance performances, demonstrations of craft traditions including beadwork and weaving, traditional martial arts, and food stalls serving ethnic Sabahan cuisine. The programme typically includes a Sumazau dance performance - the Kadazan-Dusun ceremonial dance - and demonstrations tied to Pesta Kaamatan (the Kadazan-Dusun harvest festival), which runs concurrently on 30–31 May.

Pesta Kaamatan itself is a public holiday in Sabah on 30–31 May and is one of the state’s most significant cultural events, celebrated with tapai (rice wine), Sumazau, and the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) beauty pageant. Visiting Sabah in late May gives a good chance to see both Sabah Fest and Pesta Kaamatan celebrations across the state. Entry to most Sabah Fest events is free. Kota Kinabalu is served by direct flights from KL (2.5 hours, RM80–200 with AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines).

The Huguan Siou ceremony - a formal blessing of the rice harvest conducted by high priests and priestesses known as bobolian - is one of the most distinctive elements of the Kadazan-Dusun tradition. Witness accounts describe the bobolian performing rituals in traditional dress over several hours, chanting in ancient Kadazan. Many of these practices were suppressed during the colonial period and their revival is an ongoing cultural project.

KK accommodation spans budget guesthouses near the night market (RM60–120) and mid-range options on the waterfront (RM200–400). Late May is a good time to combine the festival with a Mount Kinabalu climb - permits book out quickly but the trailhead at Timpohon Gate is a 90-minute drive from KK city, and slot availability in late May is generally better than the peak August period.