DATARAN Merdeka erupted in vibrant colours as Citrawarna 2026, one of Tourism Malaysia’s flagship events under the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, kicked off.
The highlight of the three-day celebration was its signature Colours of Parade, which brought together 3,500 performers representing 13 states and the Federal Territories in a vibrant showcase of Malaysia’s diverse heritage, Tourism Malaysia said in a statement.
The presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing reinforced Malaysia’s cultural identity on the global stage.
Citrawarna 2026 serves as a national platform to promote Malaysia’s arts, heritage, and cultural tourism to local and international visitors.
The event was organised by Tourism Malaysia with the support of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Warisan Kuala Lumpur, National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), Istana Budaya and National Textile Museum.
Built around four signature pillars – Colours of Parade, Colours of Flavour, Colours of Culture and Colours of Art – the festival offered an expansive lineup into a truly immersive cultural showcase.
As the festival’s centrepiece, the Colours of Parade brought Malaysia’s history to life through traditional costumes, music and dance.
The event also attracted over 700 international visitors through specially curated travel packages, with participants from markets including China, India, Mauritius, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Italy, Kazakhstan, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The international attendance reinforced Malaysia’s role as a hub for cultural exchange, the statement said.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore over 70 culinary stalls, 20 cultural activity stations and 10 artisan crafts booths, alongside live performances, heritage demonstrations and games.
There were interactive workshops led by local artisans including batik painting, ketupat weaving and traditional culinary demonstrations.
These activities gave the younger generation a way to reconnect with their roots while offering international guests a meaningful insight into Malaysia’s living traditions.
The celebration also featured contemporary performances by Malaysian artistes Wani Kayrie, Bulan Asyaff, Dr Soo Wincci, Santesh Kumar, Ernie Zakri and Aina Abdul together with Kumpulan Balle-Balle.
Citrawarna 2026 also welcomed participants for Tourism Malaysia’s Mega Fam programme including international media, tourism industry representatives and content creators.
Citrawarna 2026 serves as a national platform to promote Malaysia’s arts, heritage and cultural tourism. — Photos: Handout
The festival’s highlight is Colours of Parade at Dataran Merdeka.
Interactive workshops allow the younger generation a way to reconnect with their roots.
The festival brought together 3,500 performers representing all 13 states and the Federal Territories.
The three-day celebration is among Tourism Malaysia’s flagship events under VM2026.
