THE third edition of the BuMI Festival 2026 is set to return with a bigger and more diverse programme, bringing together wellness, play, food culture and nature-based experiences over a two-day weekend, scheduled to take place from May 30 to 31.
Chief story teller Jonathan Lim Seng Chong said the event has grown significantly since its debut in 2024, with this year’s edition featuring facilitators from beyond Penang, including Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, Poland and India.
“This is the third edition of BuMI, and it has grown by leaps and bounds since we first started.
“This year’s lineup is extra special because many of our facilitators are coming from outside Penang. We have looked beyond the state to bring more variety to the community here,” he said in an interview with Buletin Mutiara.
The festival, which will run from morning until night, will feature a wide range of activities centred on three key pillars, namely body, mind and spirit.
Among the offerings are yoga sessions, sound baths, movement workshops, ice baths and forest bathing, alongside cooking classes such as Ayurvedic cuisine and fermentation.
Lim said the event has been carefully curated to offer a holistic and layered experience.
“It’s not just about one activity. It’s about combining elements, like yoga with heart, and creating a full journey for participants throughout the weekend,” he said.
Participants will be able to select two scheduled sessions per day as part of their festival pass, while also enjoying additional drop-in sessions designed to give them a taste of other activities.
“We want people to experience more than just their scheduled sessions.
“If they miss something like a sound bath, they can still try a shorter version through our drop-in sessions,” he added.
The festival will also feature several highlights, including a morning performance at the Water Garden and an evening audiovisual showcase featuring local based music producer.
Lim said this year’s edition will adopt a new format, with the garden closed to the public and accessible only to festival pass holders.
“This allows participants to feel like the space is their playground.
“It creates a more immersive and intimate experience,” he said.
Each day will follow a thematic flow, with Saturday focused on “nurture” and Sunday on “release”.
“Saturday is about arriving, nourishing yourself and learning.
“Sunday is about integration and letting go,” he explained.
Among the special sessions is a journaling workshop by author and yoga instructor Briana Leong, held in collaboration with a local tea house, combining reflective writing with tea appreciation.
Attendance will be capped at 150 participants per day to ensure comfort and avoid overcrowding within the six-acre garden.
“We want everyone to have enough space to fully enjoy the experience,” noted Lim.
He added that the response to early bird ticket sales has been encouraging, with more promotions planned in the lead-up to the event.
Accommodation partnerships are also being arranged with hotels in Teluk Bahang.
Beyond the activities, Lim emphasised that the festival aims to reconnect people with nature and encourage more mindful living.
“In today’s digital world, people rarely slow down.
“BuMI is an opportunity to step away, reconnect with nature, and learn how to better care for the body and mind,” he said.
For families, a dedicated children’s area will offer craft-based activities and free play, as well as a jungle survival programme led by Orang Asli elders from the Semai community.
Lim said the festival also reflects the broader evolution of the garden from a tourist attraction into a community space.
“It’s not just a once-a-year event.
“It represents the work we have been doing to build a community and bring people closer to nature,” he added.
He noted that while there has yet to be formal collaboration with the state government, the organisers are open to future partnerships to ensure the festival’s sustainability.
“To keep growing, we will need more support from the state and larger organisations,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting