Kota Baca 2026
Date: April 23–26
Time: 7am–10pm
Venue: Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
Entry fee: Free
In conjunction with World Book and Copyright Day, a national literacy programme will be held as part of a national effort to strengthen reading culture among Malaysians – to institutionalise reading as a social norm, in line with the Malaysia Madani aspiration and the National Reading Decade (2021–2030). Here, the Malaysia Reading Map dashboard will be introduced, presenting nationwide reading and book purchase data. The event will feature a wide range of literacy, community, industry and private sector engagement activities – including a special Friday sermon on the importance of reading across Federal Territories mosques, BukaBuku by Keretapi Sarong, the Pidato Negarawan and 5km Book Character Run.
Henry Butcher Art Auction
Date: April 26
Time: 1pm–4pm
Venue: Level M, Menara Ken TTDI
Entry fee: Free
Presenting collectors with the opportunity to acquire outstanding works by renowned Malaysian artists, Henry Butcher will hold an auction featuring a selection of works by Malaysia’s modern masters Abdul Latiff Mohidin, Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal and Datuk Ibrahim Hussein. In the earlier January 2026 auction, works by Latiff and Ibrahim achieved strong prices, successfully establishing new auction records and paving the way for the upcoming April auction. A viewing of the artworks auctioned will be available from April 18 to 25, from 10am to 6pm daily.
Rain Rave Water Music Festival
Date: April 30–May 2
Time: TBA
Venue: Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Entry fee: TBA
In celebration of World Labour Day, the music festival welcomes visitors from across the region and beyond to be part of a shared, cross-cultural experience in Malaysia – integrating entertainment with Malaysian multicultural elements, local creative talent and curated lifestyle experiences. Co-organised by Tourism Malaysia and The Fame as part of the broader Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism ecosystem, the festival uses the theme “Rave Rain” to reflect the strength of Malaysia’s creative industry ecosystem – reflecting traditional and modern creativity – while appealing to domestic and international audiences. Visitors can expect immersive environments inspired by rain, a diverse line-up of international and regional DJs alongside Malaysian acts, as well as curated local market experiences featuring Malaysian food, culture and creative expressions.
Teater Normcore: Odisi Romansa
Date: May 8–10, 14–27
Time: 8.30 pm (May 8–10), 3pm (May 14–27)
Venue: Black Box, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC)
Entry fee: RM60–RM75
Moka Mocha Ink returns to the stage with its latest science fiction production, written and directed by Ridhwan Saidi – blending literary narrative with digital technology and visual arts. The play unfolds in a future where humanity has vanished, leaving androids to inherit the debris of memory, love and time. Two androids Y-002 and Z-001 attempt to simulate the human experience, and as they navigate longing, their physical separation grows vast – one descending toward the primordial gravity of the Bima Sakti’s core, while the other embarks on a pilgrimage from a dying Earth towards a new sanctuary.
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