Kelantan Folk Arts Festival Draws 150,000 Visitors, Boosts Tourism

The Kelantan Folk Arts Festival (FKRK) 2026 has drawn an impressive 150,000 visitors, positioning itself as a new driver for the state's tourism economy. The event aims to elevate Kelantan's rich artistic heritage and cultural traditions into a primary national tourism offering in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Mohd. Amran Mohd. Haris, Director-General of the National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN), stated that FKRK serves not only as a platform to promote Kelantan's arts and culture but also as a vital catalyst for the local tourism and economic sectors. The festival featured diverse programming rooted in local heritage.

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FKRK is not just a field to elevate Kelantan's arts and culture, but also an important platform to boost the local tourism and economy through various contents based on local heritage.

A key highlight was the "Titah Bonda Pusaka Ayahanda" performance, which blended various ethnic groups through traditional drumming, symbolizing unity and harmony. The prestigious show featured renowned artists and cultural troupes, including Roy Kapilla, Amy Search, Datuk Dr. Lim Swee Tin, and the Mak Yong Kijang Mas ensemble.

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This prestigious performance features famous artists like Roy Kapilla, Amy Search, Datuk Dr. Lim Swee Tin, Paksu Agil, Megat Haikal, Zamry Gerak Khas, Joe Rajuna, the Dikir Barat Kala Mahajara Group, and the Mak Yong Kijang Mas Group.

The festival also showcased demonstrations of traditional folk sports like spinning tops (gasing uri) and kite making, alongside cultural performances such as wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), Mak Yong, Main Teri, and Menora. The event concluded with a closing ceremony officiated by Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd. Nassuruddin Daud.

Further enriching the festival were a community feast, a decorated boat parade, and a Cultural Arts Wakaf offering performances, exhibitions, and knowledge sharing. A notable innovation launched was the Rebana Ubi Inovasi, a lighter, more practical, and affordable pre-fabricated version of the traditional Rebana Ubi drum, developed since 2022 to ensure the instrument's relevance and accessibility for younger generations. FKRK is one of 16 cultural tourism programs planned by JKKN for this year to support Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

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This innovation aims to empower the heritage of rebana ubi so that it remains relevant and easily inherited by the younger generation.