PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's rich cultural heritage is set to take to the fast lane as traditional dances, music and colourful costumes meet motorsports-inspired attractions at the Citrawarna Speed Festival 2026 here.
The 12-day festival, which concludes on Sunday (Oct 4), brings together cultural showcases and automotive experiences at IOI City Mall Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 and Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA.
The cultural highlight, the Colours of Parade at IOI City Mall Putrajaya on Saturday (Oct 3) night, features about 1,500 dancers and performers from across the country.
The performers represent the northern, central, southern and east coast regions, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, showcasing their traditions through music, dance, colourful costumes and other artistic expressions.
The parade also features performances by the Orang Asli, Chinese, Indian, Sikh and Siamese communities, alongside Nusantara percussion and brass band performances.
Organised by Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign, the festival introduces a new format by pairing cultural experiences with motorsport-inspired activities.
At IOI City Mall Putrajaya, Colours of Speed features racing simulator competitions, while Colours of Art and Culture offers 14 interactive stations showcasing traditional arts, crafts and live cultural performances.
The festival also extends to KLIA Terminal 1 and Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA, where visitors and international travellers can experience traditional dances, automotive exhibitions, traditional games such as gasing and congkak, as well as racing simulator sessions.
The three-location approach brings the festival to a shopping centre, the country's main international gateway and a hotel, linking cultural experiences with tourism and hospitality.
The Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man were among those who attended the festival.
Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Manoharan Periasamy and IOI Corporation Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Lee Yeow Chor were also present.
Tourism Malaysia said 28.8 million international visitors were recorded from January to August, up 1.8% from 28.2 million during the same period last year.
Domestic tourism also grew, with 151.6 million domestic visitors recorded in the first half of this year, a 5.6% increase from 143.5 million in the corresponding period last year.
The festival will conclude tomorrow with a Lamborghini activation at IOI City Mall Putrajaya featuring about 100 high-performance vehicles.
