7 May 2026
Malaysia is set to roll out a vibrant line‑up of festivals, major events and retail experiences across the country starting from the first week of May, positioning the destination as an attractive choice for GCC travellers planning holidays around the Eid al‑Adha period.
A major highlight is Festival Kuala Lumpur 2026, celebrated nationwide from 06 May to 31 May 2026. The festival will feature an extensive programme of public art, concerts and music shows, community activities and creative showcases. With over 80 events across 25 locations in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the celebration offers an ideal opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Malaysia’s cultural richness and dynamic creative energy.
“Festival Kuala Lumpur is a celebration that truly captures the spirit of Malaysia,” said Mr. Mohd Faharuddin Hatmin, Director, Tourism Malaysia Dubai. “It brings together creativity, culture and community, transforming the city into a vibrant stage for visitors from the GCC to experience our warm hospitality and diverse traditions during the festive season.”
Adding to the excitement, Malaysia’s events calendar continues through June with cultural celebrations, sporting competitions and lifestyle showcases across Kuala Lumpur and other regions. Notable events include the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show, taking place from 12–21 June 2026, and the Perak Multisport Festival, complemented by citywide entertainment and cultural programmes that highlight Malaysia’s multicultural heritage.
Malaysia will also launch the Malaysia Mega Sale, a nationwide shopping campaign running from 15 June to 31 July 2026. As one of the country’s flagship retail seasons, the Mega Sale will feature wide‑ranging promotions, exclusive offers and lifestyle experiences across malls, boutiques and major retail districts nationwide.
“GCC travellers—value memorable shopping, seamless city experiences and quality family time,” the Tourism Malaysia spokesperson added. “Our Mega Sale and festival season are designed to offer exactly that, blending culture, entertainment and exceptional value.”
Supported by festive celebrations, rich cultural programming, rewarding retail opportunities and a strong variety of family‑friendly attractions, Malaysia continues to strengthen its position as a preferred destination for travellers from the GCC market planning Eid and summer getaways.
These initiatives aim to deepen visitor engagement, offering meaningful encounters with local customs, traditional performances and multicultural flavours that provide a travel experience far beyond conventional tourism.
About Tourism Malaysia
The Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC). It focuses on promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination and has, since its establishment, played a significant role in strengthening the country’s presence and competitiveness in the global tourism landscape.
Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) underscores Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable tourism development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). As Malaysia’s flagship tourism campaign, VM2026 showcases the nation’s diverse natural attractions, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant tourism offerings while driving inclusive growth and long‑term value for local communities and industry stakeholders. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.
About VFS Global Tourism Services
VFS Global has established its regional and global footprints in the space of tourism services, complementing its core visa services business. With 16 years of experience, the Tourism Services Unit has served more than 25 destinations. The team partners client destinations, across different countries, to enable the achievement of their travel and tourism promotional objectives and business targets. We specialize in destination representation, outsourced tourism office management and trade support services for national tourism authorities from client governments. We facilitate them in a wide range of destination promotional activities.
Some of the key services include dedicated tourism support offices, destination training, product development, B2B roadshows & workshops, consumer events, digital campaigns, MICE engagement program, public relations and e-learning modules. The team is able to partner client destinations across different countries to deliver the desired tourist arrival and spend targets.
About VFS Global
As the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure mobility for governments and citizens, VFS Global embraces technological innovation, including Generative AI, to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.
With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritises ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 71 client governments. Operating over 4,100 Application Centres in 168 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 542 million transactions* since 2001.
Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, VFS Global is majority owned by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, along with minority shareholders including Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation, Singapore based Temasek and UAE based Dubai Holdings.
* Comprised of 337.50 million transactions by VFS Global and 204.92 million transactions by CiX Citizen Experience