A festive welcome gantry lights up Jalan Bukit Bintang as part of the ‘I Lite U @ Bukit Bintang’ initiative ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026. — Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI and YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
WORK to ready and deck up Jalan Bukit Bintang is almost complete, with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) contractors working round the clock ahead of the launch of the “ “ “““I Lite U @ Bukit Bintang event tomorrow.
Last minute beautification works are underway as the popular tourist strip is transformed for the colourful prelude to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
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Visitors can expect cascades of light, splashes of colour and a lively musical parade that will transform the city’s most famous stretch into an open-air stage, complete with marching bands, cultural performances and festive drum show.
The I Lite U @ Bukit Bintang initiative is set to transform the city’s most iconic strip into a brighter, safer and more festive destination, reinforcing Kuala Lumpur’s readiness for Visit Malaysia 2026.
The project, a collaboration between DBKL, Housing and Local Government Ministry, Bukit Bintang-KLCC Tourism Association and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, reflects a broader push to enhance the city’s night-time appeal while strengthening its position as a vibrant tourism and cultural hub.
Cultural performances like this is expected during the launch of the parade. — Filepic
The celebration will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Bukit Bintang-KLCC (BBKLCC) Tourism Association chairman Ng Yih Chen said the event will feature illuminated streetscapes and a parade involving talents from 19 government agencies, including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Fire and Rescue Department, Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), Immigration Department, alongside Artis Budaya and other cultural performers.
“About 700 people will take part in the parade, which will include marching bands, dance troupes, stilt walkers and flash mobs, as well as performances such as lion and dragon dances, as well as cultural showcases involving bhangra, kompang, Orang Asli and Portuguese performances,” he added.
Describing it as one of the biggest events since Covid-19, Ng said the BBKLCC Tourism Association and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur are playing supporting roles, with shopping malls and hotels in the area roped in due to their experience in organising large-scale parades in Bukit Bintang.
Ng: Illumination at Bukit Bintang has been enhanced further and it looks quite spectacular.
Ng, who is also Sungei Wang Plaza management committee chairman, said the association is well known for events like the annual Mid-Autumn Festival lantern parades and the Kuala Lumpur Prosperity Walk, which have drawn thousands to Bukit Bintang over the years to enjoy elaborate light displays and festive celebrations.
“The idea of having a parade for the VMY2026 launch came about early in the discussion stage, as we wanted something more festive and colourful,” he ‘added.
“Also, due to our past experience in organising parades and festivals here, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming approached us to organise this event.
“DBKL has done a great job with the lighting. The area was already illuminated, but it has now been enhanced further and looks quite spectacular,” Ng said.
Another key component of the event is the VMY2026 Kuala Lumpur Competition which includes categories for photography, video and best building light-up categories.
Workers carry out last-minute landscaping works along Jalan Bukit Bintang ahead of the launch of the I Lite U @ Bukit Bintang initiative.
Running from Jan 3 to March 10, the competition invites the public to capture the city’s illuminated streets through photographs, short videos and creative building light displays, with prizes of up to RM5,000 in vouchers.
The initiative is held in collaboration with shopping malls, the Society of Photographers Malaysia (SPM) and the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK), who will serve as judges.
Ng said the parade would start near Starhill and Pavilion and end at the Federal Hotel side near Plaza Low Yat.
“With over 700 people involved, we have to ensure there is sufficient space for them to gather,” he said, adding that the rainy weather would be one thing to prepare for.
“As this is happening in the evening, during Bukit Bintang’s busiest hours, it will be a challenge,’’ Ng said.
“Some roads will be closed, and we will be writing to Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to request extended rail services so the public can use public transport instead of driving.
“DBKL will be closing Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail tomorrow from 6pm to midnight,” he said, adding that up to one million people are expected to converge in the area.
