Rainforest World Music Festival

View on map
MusicKuching
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
CrowdSmallAbout 25,000 people
Best forLive music, late nightsWhat began as a small experiment, four
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: MYR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching

The Rainforest World Music Festival, held each year at the Sarawak Cultural Village near Kuching, brings traditional and world music performers from Sarawak, across Malaysia and around the globe together for daytime workshops and evening main-stage concerts against the backdrop of Mount Santubong. Founded in 1998 after Canadian musicologist Randy Raine-Reusch introduced Sarawak's sape musicians to the international WOMEX festival, the event has been named among the world's best international festivals by Songlines magazine for six consecutive years.

The Rainforest World Music Festival began with a single instrument and a chance conversation.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What began as a small experiment, four traditional Sarawak musicians performing sape, a Kayan and Kenyah stringed instrument, at the WOMEX festival in Marseilles in the late 1990s, grew directly into a festival that now draws global performers to Borneo itself rather than only sending Bornean musicians abroad

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival's format, afternoon workshop sessions where audiences sit close to musicians in an intimate, educational setting followed by full evening concerts on two main stages, gives attendees unusually direct access to the techniques and stories behind traditional instruments they might otherwise only see performed from a distance, while the setting itself, the Sarawak Cultural Village at the base of Mount Santubong, roughly 35 kilometers from Kuching, immerses the entire event within recreated traditional longhouses representing Sarawak's diverse ethnic groups

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival showcases traditional acoustic instruments and musical practices from Sarawak's indigenous groups

Water and renewal

Living ritual

particularly the sape

The sacred route

Living ritual

a boat-shaped lute played by the Kayan and Kenyah peoples

The local code

Living ritual

alongside traditional music from cultures worldwide

Tradition 5

Living ritual

staged within the Sarawak Cultural Village's recreated longhouses representing the state's diverse ethnic communities including Iban

Tradition 6

Living ritual

Melanau and Orang Ulu groups

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Plan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing and comfortable footwear suit the outdoor tropical setting; ponchos or light rain gear are worth packing given Borneo's frequent rain showers, and there is no...

Safety

At Rainforest World Music Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Kuching you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

MYR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map1.55 N, 110.33 EOpen in Google Maps

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Nearest airportKCH — Kuching
TransportPlan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Kuching you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Kuching via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Kuching, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing and comfortable footwear suit the outdoor tropical setting; ponchos or light rain gear are worth packing given Borneo's frequent rain showers, and there is no formal dress requirement for either workshop sessions or evening concerts.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Malaysia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Rainforest World Music Festival?

Rainforest World Music Festival is listed for Past edition: 26–28 June 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Rainforest World Music Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Kuching, Malaysia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

How big is it?

Small: 25000

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLrwmf.net
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Rock in Rio

4–13 September 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo pending

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Past edition: 25 June–4 July 2026

Montreal, Canada
Photo pending

Tomorrowland Brasil

Past edition: 10–12 October 2025

Itu, Brazil
Photo pending

Glastonbury Festival

23–27 June 2027

Pilton, United Kingdom

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →