Weaving living traditions, graceful Zapin rhythms, and regional arts in a grand gathering of island communities at the heart of Borneo.
Preserving our roots.
Inspiring our future.
01 / The Cultural Gathering
Across the turquoise seas connecting Indonesia, Malaysia, and the wider archipelago, we are bound by shared rhythms, ancestral proverbs, and enduring craft traditions. Archipelago Culture Festival unites regional communities in Penampang, Sabah for three days of cultural exchange and joy.
From the rhythmic cadence of the marwas drums in Zapin dance to thoughtful dialogues on heritage in the digital age, this festival celebrates who we were, who we are, and what we build together.
02 / Festival Programs
One festival with diverse experiences. Tap any card below to view detailed schedules, eligibility, and rules.
Competition · Dance
The noble steps of Zapin accompanied by marwas and gambus. Welcoming student teams and open arts collectives from across the region.
Competition · Poetry
Expressive recitation harmonized with acoustic melodies. Interpreting timeless verses of heritage, patriotism, and unity.
Academics, cultural leaders, and youth delegates discussing Zapin safeguarding, oral history preservation, and digital archiving.
Talks & Focus Group
Exploring the leadership of women in preserving performing arts, textile craftsmanship, and driving regional creative economies.
Marketplace & Expo
A bustling marketplace inside ITCC Mall with traditional craft artisans, textiles, natural foods, jewellery, and local fashion.
An evening uniting regional performers, fusion melodies, and festival award celebrations in one vibrant musical tapestry.
All program visuals and brief outlines adapted from the official festival Term of Reference (TOR).
03 / Program Schedule
Welcoming regional delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei with traditional Sabah and Nusantara musical welcomes.
Stalls open to the public: handmade crafts, batik, songket, herbal wellness products, and regional cuisine.
School and youth dance troupes take the stage to showcase traditional Zapin mastery.
Keynote presentations by academic and cultural representatives from Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Pancasila, and Sabah cultural bodies.
Focus group discussion highlighting traditional artisans and women-led cultural initiatives.
Premier arts collectives, universities, and professional dance troupes compete for the championship title.
Acoustic ensembles weaving spoken verses and live acoustic melodies before the panel of literary and musical judges.
Conferment of trophies, diplomas, cash prizes, and tokens of appreciation for all participants and adjudicators.
Celebratory closing concert featuring winning ensembles and guest regional headliners in harmony.
Contingents traveling from abroad can request performance slot confirmations directly from Admin CIG.
04 / Competitions & Entry
Represent your school, arts academy, or cultural collective on the Nusantara stage. Choose your contest below, inspect the judging rubric, and start your online registration.
Registration is coordinated directly with Admin CIG via WhatsApp. The PDF worksheet helps your team gather all required participant names and student IDs beforehand.
Student: Secondary school students enrolled at recognized educational institutions. A school may register more than one contingent.
Open: Arts academies, university student clubs, community troupes, and general public performers with no age limitation.
Each group consists of 6 to 10 dancers (excluding artistic directors, makeup crew, and live musicians). Mixed-gender, all-male, or all-female groups are equally welcomed.
Choreography must be rooted in authentic Malay or regional Zapin traditions, respecting traditional etiquette and modesty.
Performance duration is 5 to 7 minutes. Music accompaniment may be either high-quality recorded playback (MP3/WAV on USB) or live acoustic instruments (gambus, accordion, marwas drums).
Student: Enrolled school students. Open: University students, youth clubs, poets, and general music ensembles.
Ensembles must comprise 4 to 6 members, including spoken poetry reciters, vocalists, and live instrumentalists.
Poems may be original compositions or established works on themes of Nusantara patriotism, humanitarian fraternity, identity, and shared culture.
Strictly Live Acoustic Accompaniment: Recorded backing tracks, minus-one tapes, synthesizers, and karaoke playback are strictly prohibited. Permitted instruments include acoustic guitars, violins, cajons, flutes, and hand percussions.
Total performance duration is 4 to 6 minutes, including stage instrument setup.
05 / Guidance & Answers
Essential facts for visitors, participants, and cultural delegations.
Yes, 100% free admission! All visitors are warmly welcome to watch the Zapin dance rounds, musical poetry performances, attend the Shared Heritage Forum, visit the SME Expo stalls, and enjoy the evening concerts inside ITCC Mall without ticket fees.
Competitions are split into two brackets:
The organizing committee (Admin CIG) coordinates accommodation packages, local shuttle recommendations from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), and official participant credentials. When you submit your group details through this website, our assistant prepares an official WhatsApp message to Admin CIG for personalized support.
Musical Poetry must be performed with 100% live acoustic instrumentation. Acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, violin, viola, cello, flute, cajon, rebana, and percussion instruments are encouraged. Pre-recorded backing tracks, electronic synthesizers, and karaoke tracks are not permitted.
The deadline to confirm group registration is 30 October 2026. Final registration documents (scanned student IDs or national identity cards) are transmitted securely to Admin CIG on WhatsApp or via email once your initial message is acknowledged.
Yes. Artisans, fashion designers, local food purveyors, and herbal craft producers from Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, and regional provinces can apply for exhibition booths by messaging Admin CIG directly with the keyword "SME Expo Exhibitor".
06 / Destination & Location
Kota Kinabalu Metropolitan Area · Sabah, Malaysia
Sabah sits proudly at the crossroads of maritime Nusantara. Renowned for its hospitality, cultural heritage, and biodiversity, Penampang is the ideal setting for this regional gathering.
Jalan Pintas Penampang, 89500 Penampang, Sabah · 20–22 November 2026
Join hundreds of dancers, poets, academics, and artisans in a historic celebration of Nusantara identity.
