The festival, themed “Fostering Exchange, Promoting Mutual Understanding and Celebrating ICH,” is an initiative to promote, celebrate, and encourage activities related to ICH that have received recognition through multinational nominations, namely the Wangkang Ceremony (Malaysia - China), Pantun (Malaysia - Indonesia - Brunei Darussalam), and Kebaya (Malaysia- Brunei Darussalam - Indonesia - Singapore - Thailand), as well as Chingay and Lion Dance, which are currently undergoing inscription evaluation. This programme will be organised by the Department of National Heritage (JWN) under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in strategic collaboration with the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP) and Melaka State Government. The programme also involve cooperation with several local non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The objectives of this programme are as follows:

(i) To elevate national heritage to the international level.

(ii) To promote ICH activities that have received UNESCO recognition through multinational nominations.

(iii) To establish strategic international cooperation in developing joint heritage safeguarding plans.

(iv) To celebrate shared heritage in order to foster a sense of shared ownership among local and international participants 

Programme

This programme consists of three (3) main components:

• (i) Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival (ICH Festival) – including the Heritage Parade, Heritage Competitions, Kebaya Demonstrations and Fashion Showcases, Cultural Performances, and Cultural Products Selling.

• (ii) International Workshop on ICH Elements, themed “Fostering Exchange, Promoting Mutual Understanding and Celebrating ICH.”

This workshop aims to share experiences on ICH Safeguarding Plans among countries that share similar elements with Malaysia (Wangkang Ceremony, Pantun, Kebaya, Chingay, Lion Dance), to achieve a resolution for joint safeguarding in the future.

• (iii) Cultural Exchange Exhibition

Six (6) countries — Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, will participate in joint exhibitions to showcase the uniqueness and diversity of each participating country’s cultural heritage while providing visitors with greater exposure to inherited traditions, artistic expressions, customary practices, and cultural values 

Exhibition on 31 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 only (9.00 am – 10.00 pm) at the Malay and Islamic World Museum

Demonstrations, heritage food & craft bazaar and cultural performances, on 31 Oct and 1 Nov 2026 only (9.00 am – 10.00 pm) at Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum 

https://ich.unesco.org/en/activities/cultural-exchange-festival-celebrating-cross-cultural-heritage-00718