THE Kelantan Arts Festival 2026 is hoping to draw in around 150,000 visitors over its four-day run at the Tok Bali Tourist Jetty in Pasir Puteh.
State National Culture and Arts Department director Rohaniza Abdullah said the annual festival would showcase Kelantan’s arts, culture and heritage.
The event’s ninth edition themed “Pakat Mari Belako, Tengok Mene Kito” starts July 1 and will welcome visitors daily from 10am to 11pm.
It will feature dikir barat, makyong, wayang kulit, rebana ubi, kertok, martial arts, traditional music and multicultural performances.
“We are also organising various competitions and community activities to enable visitors to experience Kelantan’s cultural heritage,” she told Bernama.
They include baling tin, decok, biddah, konda kondi, silat tari and traditional cooking.
There will also be traditional games such as wau bercahaya, sepak raga bakul, tarik upih, skipping, archery and coconut-shell racing, which the younger generation may not be familiar with, she added.
The event will feature exhibition and sales areas such as Pasar Melayu Klasik, Foodie Fest and Wakaf Seni Budaya, while government agencies and local entrepreneurs will also set up booths.
The public will also be able to meet social media influencer Mek Yun and several Kelantan-born business figures.
State tourism, culture, arts and heritage committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said the festival received strong backing from 20 sponsors.
He said its location at the Tok Bali Tourist Jetty offered added value for visitors especially those heading to Pulau Perhentian.
