THE George Town Festival (GTF) is set to return for its 17th edition from Aug 1 to 9, bringing together artists, performers and creative practitioners from Malaysia and around the world while continuing to champion local talent.
Describing GTF as the “mother of all festivals” in Penang, state executive councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai said this year’s edition will feature more than 40 programmes, artists from 10 countries and over 80% free-to-attend events across George Town.
“George Town Festival has helped shape Penang’s wider cultural ecosystem. It has inspired confidence, creativity and ambition within our arts community,” he said during a press conference at The Makers in Beach Street, George Town, today.
Wong noted that the state is witnessing a growing landscape of homegrown festivals and arts initiatives, including Butterworth Fringe Festival, Nibong Tebal Festival, Seberang Perai Heritage Festival, Balik Pulau Festival and many other community-driven arts programmes.
“Our focus is not to create more events. Our focus is to build better, stronger and more sustainable platforms that deliver long-term value to Penang.
“George Town Festival is a clear example of this philosophy in action. From 2010 to 2026, it has evolved, expanded and improved while remaining true to its original purpose as a platform for contemporary arts and creative expression,” he said.
Held under the theme “Beyond Boundaries”, this year’s festival invites audiences to venture beyond expectations and experience art in unexpected forms, places and encounters.
Wong clarified that George Town Festival (GTF) and George Town Heritage Celebration (GTHC) are distinct initiatives, although George Town World Heritage Incorporated spearheads both.
“GTF is arts-oriented, while GTHC focuses more on culture and heritage,” he said.
Penang will celebrate the George Town Heritage Celebration on July 7, a state public holiday commemorating George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
Also present at the press conference were George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee, TLM Event chief executive officer Jack Wong, GTWHI Department of Communications and Collaborations manager Vick Quah, Festival manager Connie Chan and several participating artists.
Dr Ang said this year’s festival would feature more “Soul-to-Soul” sessions, where artists will not only perform but also share the stories, inspirations and creative processes behind their works.
Describing the sessions as an opportunity for both artists and aspiring artists to connect and learn, she encouraged the public to support the ticketed performances, noting that ticket prices have already been heavily subsidised by the state government.
This year’s festival will open with “Six to Eleven”, a two-day celebration taking place on Aug 1 and 2 at Padang Kota Lama and the surrounding heritage precinct.
Among the highlights is “Heritage in Motion: Projection Mapping”, a large-scale visual spectacle that will transform George Town’s historic architecture through light, technology and storytelling.
The opening weekend will also feature performances by acclaimed Sarawak musician Alena Murang and indigenous music collective At Adau, alongside the internationally renowned DUNDU giant light puppets from Germany.
Applications are currently open, with artists invited to submit their proposals by June 30.
For audiences seeking deeper artistic experiences, GTF 2026 will present seven ticketed programmes spanning theatre, dance, music, puppetry and contemporary performance, featuring acclaimed productions from Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
Tickets for the festival’s ticketed programmes will go on sale from June 10.
For more information, visit George Town Festival or follow George Town Festival on Facebook and Instagram (@georgetownfestival).
Details of GTF 2026 ticketed programmes are as follows:
- Dream Space (Korea) – Malaysian premiere by Creative Group SSAK. Following sold-out performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the production received recognition through the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Theatre Awards and the Asian Art Awards Outstanding Young Performers accolade. A visually captivating non-verbal work combining puppetry, physical theatre and live music.
- Lament of the Wandering Head 《落頭氏》(Taiwan) – Presented by Sun Son Theatre, a recognised 2025 Taiwan Top Performing Arts Group, and nominated for the 24th Taishin Arts Award. An experimental theatre work exploring transformation, displacement and identity through movement, sound and fragmented text, featuring the use of Penang Hokkien in Taiwanese theatre.
- Shakespeare Meets NOH: DESDEMONA (Malaysia and Japan) – Premiered in Tokyo in 2025 and presented by Malaysia’s only full-time touring Shakespeare theatre company. A unique reimagining of Shakespeare’s Othello through the aesthetics of Japanese Noh theatre, centring themes of grief, innocence, forgiveness and reconciliation.
- When Spirits Meet (TBD) (Taiwan) – Presented by Taiwan’s Formosa Indigenous Song and Dance Troupe. A celebration of the living traditions of the Truku and Amis Indigenous peoples, featuring ancestral songs, dances and cultural rituals rooted in community and heritage.
- TEWAS: No Light at the End of the Tunnel (Malaysia) – Winner of Best Group/Ensemble Performance (Theatre) at the 2025 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards and recipient of seven nominations. A powerful physical theatre production confronting the realities of bullying, violence, silence and survival within Malaysian educational institutions.
- MATAHARI (Malaysia) – Presented by Penang’s ZXC Theatre Troupe as its 35th Anniversary Original Production. An apocalyptic fable exploring humanity’s relationship with the sun and nature through themes of neglect, betrayal and forgetting.
- Malaysian Real Book II: Past to Present (Malaysia) – Featuring some of Malaysia’s finest jazz musicians and vocalists, including Ida Mariana, Janet Lee and Yon Lynn. A vibrant celebration of the Great Malaysian Songbook, reimagining beloved Malaysian compositions through contemporary jazz.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian