Thousands gather for street concert, late-night festivities at KL mall
SOME 3,000 people gathered along Jalan Peel in Kuala Lumpur to usher in 2026 at Sunway Velocity’s New Year’s Eve countdown concert, which transformed the stretch into a pedestrian-friendly festival zone.
The celebration featured live performances, artisan booths, late-night dining and a midnight fireworks display.
The crowd grew from a few hundred at 7pm to the thousands by midnight, as families, youths and tourists arrived to explore the bazaar-style market, catch stage acts and take part in community activities.
A portion of Jalan Peel was closed for the night, allowing visitors to join in the celebration safely at the event area.
The Rows Market featured over 50 artisan vendors offering crafts, gourmet food and speciality items.
Food and beverage outlets in and around the mall stayed open late, keeping the area lively well past midnight.
Ahead of the countdown event, a K-Pop Dance Challenge drew strong participation from local dance enthusiasts.
On stage, the musical line-up was headlined by Kiiras, led by Malaysian-born Lingling, alongside local band Masdo, songstress Annabella and Mandopop singer Layla Sania, who drew cheers with her performance of Beyond’s seminal hit Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies.
Prominent Malaysian DJ Blink delivered energetic sets comprising K-pop remixes and electronic dance beats that carried the crowd into the final minutes before the countdown.
As the clock struck midnight, fireworks lit up the sky above Jalan Peel as confetti rained down on visitors, drawing loud cheers as the crowd welcomed 2026.
Among those in attendance was Li Wen, a tourist from China celebrating New Year’s Eve in Malaysia for the first time with his family.
“The atmosphere here is very lively. The crowd, music and fireworks made it a memorable experience,” he said.
“I didn’t expect such a big street celebration. It feels very safe and well organised. There is a strong sense of community even though many of us are visitors.
“People were friendly and we felt like we were part of the crowd,” Li said.
“The fireworks display at midnight was beautiful. It was worth staying until the end,” he added.
Even around midnight, the mall remained busy, with many staying on as eateries continued operating late into the night.
Sunway Malls Kuala Lumpur senior general manager Phang Sau Lian said the event was designed as a community-centred gathering to celebrate shared experiences.
“As we close the year 2025, we would like to thank our loyal shoppers and tenants for making Sunway Velocity Mall a top-tier destination for the KL South community.
“This countdown concert creates an avenue for the community to celebrate meaningful moments through live entertainment, cultural discoveries and community connection,” she said
Phang added that the event blended entertainment with community connection to position Jalan Peel as a key gathering point for year-end celebrations in Kuala Lumpur.
