THE George Town Festival (GTF) 2026 has surpassed its target of attracting 200,000 visitors, reflecting the strong response to the nine-day celebration of arts and culture in Penang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the visitor target, which was announced by the organisers at the festival’s opening, had been achieved following encouraging turnout throughout the festival.
“According to (Dr Ang Ming Chee), this figure has already been achieved, considering the good response throughout the nine days of the George Town Festival,” he told reporters after attending the When Spirits Meet: The Rainbow Bridge and Ocean Chants programme at Dewan Sri Pinang here today.
Ang is the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager.
Also present earlier was state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
The festival, which began on Aug 1 and concludes today, featured 48 programmes involving artists and performers from several countries, including Spain, Japan, Thailand, Germany and South Korea.
Chow said GTF, now in its 17th edition, continued to serve as an important platform for Penang to showcase and celebrate diverse artistic and cultural expressions from both local and international communities.
He also said preparations for next year’s 18th edition had already begun, even before this year’s festival came to an end.
“This is because some programmes require a longer preparation period, particularly in identifying teams and performers for the shows,” he said.
Chow added that the festival would reach its climax tonight with a programme at Armenian Park, marking the conclusion of this year’s nine-day celebration.
The continued growth of GTF, he said, demonstrated the festival’s ability to draw audiences while strengthening Penang’s position as a destination for arts, culture and heritage.
The GTF 2026 features a diverse line-up of performances and programmes aimed at bringing together artists, cultural practitioners and audiences from Penang and around the world.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix and video by Darwina Mohd Daud