THE PenangLang Community Day 2026 will be held at Sunshine Central in Bandar Baru Air Itam from June 27 to 28, featuring a vibrant mix of cultural performances, food-related activities, heritage showcases and family-friendly programmes.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the event, now in its fifth year, will bring together residents, visitors, and friends from all walks of life in a meaningful celebration of what it truly means to be “Penang Lang”.
“PenangLang Community Day 2026 is not merely a lively community festival. More importantly, it is a meaningful platform to strengthen community bonds, preserve cultural heritage, connect people across different backgrounds, and showcase the rich diversity that makes Penang unique,” he said at a press conference for the event at Komtar today.
He added that the Penang government has supported the initiative since its inception in 2022, as it strongly believes community building and cultural preservation are essential pillars of the state’s development.
“Penang has never been a city of a single story. People of different ethnicities, languages, cultures, faiths, and backgrounds build our society. They have shaped the Penang we know and love today,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were PenangLang Community administrator Peter Yeoh and members Ash, Datin Lynda Cheng, and Sook Fun Lau; Peranakan Thai chef Wilshere Lawrence; M Summit Group Corporate Communications manager Ng Su-Ann, M Summit Group Public Relations & Corporate Communications assistant manager Carolyn Chew; Penang Central Marketing Communications senior manager Bryan Wong; and Penang Community Today founder Paul Choong.
Yeoh expressed appreciation to the state government and various agencies for their support, and also thanked the offices of the Thai, Japanese and Indonesian Consuls-General, as well as private sector partners.
He highlighted that, with the support of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang, a Thai troupe will be brought in to perform the Khon, a traditional Thai masked dance which he described as a highlight not to be missed.
Reflecting on its origins, Yeoh said PenangLang Community Day emerged from the Penang Walkabouts group, which has grown from 500 members to 120,000 members spanning more than 100 countries, with the largest base in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
“Our original intention in starting Penang Walkabouts was to encourage members to walk and get to know George Town or their own cities better, while connecting with businesspeople, restaurateurs, bloggers and everyone,” he said.
In 2022, he said the group decided to do something more tangible beyond social media and began organising heritage walks at Armenian Park. The following year, they held the PenangLang Community Day at New World Park, featuring ronggeng performances that showcased a popular pastime of the 1940s and 1950s at the park.
“When TV came in during the 1960s, ronggeng started to fade away. But we do not want Penangites to forget our history and heritage. It was about bringing it back to life,” he said, adding that PenangLang Community Day remains deeply rooted in Penang’s heritage and culture.
Sook Fun Lau, moderator of Penang Walkabouts, said this year’s programme will feature a wide variety of cultural activities, including Malay, Nyonya, Chinese, Bollywood, Sabah and Sarawak bamboo dance, boria and joget performances, as well as Japanese swordsmanship demonstrations.
Other highlights include an opening ceremony by a lion dance troupe, kebaya pageants for children, adults and senior citizens, and a sambal-eating competition.
She also said experienced guide K.P. Ong will lead a morning food trail from the Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng’s service centre to Sunshine Central.
The two-day event will see Sunshine Central and the Royal Thai Consulate General in Penang as official partners, and is supported by various other sponsors.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat