JAM PJ in Petaling Jaya may not be the first place that comes to mind for Cantonese opera, wayang kulit or a disabled-led theatre show.
That is precisely the point of the Red Rooster Art Festival 2026, which brings cultural performers, theatremakers and more to the venue on Oct 24 and 25.
Organised by creative community platform Little Bulat with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the two-day festival is free to attend, but registration is required.
The programme features 13 live shows involving more than 100 performers, spanning Cantonese opera, dikir barat, wayang kulit, lion dance, contemporary dance, family and clown theatre, performances by disabled and neurodivergent artists and indie folk music.
Little Bulat has carved out a niche by turning unconventional spaces into creative bazaars and pop-ups, beginning with a KL warehouse in Chan Sow Lin’s industrial district.
The name Red Rooster is playful, reflecting the festival’s mix of independent makers and cultural performances.
“A rooster is bold, expressive and full of character, reflecting the spirit of the festival, celebrating individuality, artistic expression and the many different voices within Malaysia's creative scene,” says Estica Teh, 43, event curator and Little Bulat founder.
"Rather than limiting ourselves to one genre, we want to create a platform where different artistic expressions can coexist and surprise audiences," she adds.
The programme begins on Oct 24 at 1pm with Sun Ngai Sing Cantonese Opera's Bloodshed At Weiyang Palace, followed at 1.30pm by Making Rhythm's Djembe Meets Lenggang and at 2pm by PlayPlayer's The Little Monkey's Secret Place. Later performances include Mr John's Family at 3.30pm, Guha Humana's Into The Cave at 5.30pm and Noel & Her Feathers' Will You Waltz With Me? at 7pm.
On Oct 25, WaaiwaiiDrum opens the programme at 1pm with The Pots & Pans, Lepak & Main. Choreographer-dancer Rithaudin Abdul Kadir presents The Bayu Whisperer at 2pm, followed at 3pm by Teater Untuk Semua's double bill, Samuderia and I Don't Want To Be So On The Nose. Lokarya presents Sunday City Pop at 4pm, followed by Yi Ngai Lion Dance's Double The Glory at 4.30pm.
At 5pm, the festival sees two traditional works Angin Dewa Muda (dikir barat) and Hikayat Dewa Muda (wayang kulit) presented by cultural outfit Kumpulan Seni Teraju Sakti.
Beyond the performances, the festival showcases local creatives working in illustration, ceramics, digital art, printmaking, textiles, mengkuang weaving, artisan crafts and bonsai.
“We want to remain flexible in how we bring people together, whether through large-scale festivals, intimate creative gatherings or collaborations with unexpected venues and partners,” says Teh.
The marketplace is open from 11am to 8pm this weekend.
