The Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 will return this December, marking its 20th edition with a new format, a new city-centre setting and a broader focus under the theme “Beyond Jazz.”
The festival will take place on 4 and 5 December 2026 at Pullman Miri Waterfront Hotel, bringing international, regional and Malaysian musicians together in the heart of Miri. The move marks the first time the festival will be staged in the Miri city centre.
Borneo Jazz Festival 2026: What to Expect
According to the official Borneo Jazz website, the 2026 festival will combine evening concerts with daytime activities designed to celebrate music, culture, creativity and the Bornean identity.
The “Beyond Jazz” theme reflects the festival’s expanded approach, with organisers looking beyond a conventional concert format to include tourism, community participation, local businesses and cultural activities.
The festival will also feature a free-entry Borneo Jazz Festival Village, with food and beverages, arts and crafts, retail booths and live performances.
Another feature will be the All Borneo Pavilion, bringing together participants from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia to showcase the region’s culture, creativity and tourism offerings.
Performers: 10 Acts From Seven Countries
The 2026 edition will feature 10 acts representing seven countries – Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, Australia and Sweden.
Among the performers are Elisha Tiga Eksperiment from Brunei, Marter from Japan, LaidThis Nite from Indonesia, Q Sound from the United States, and Malaysian music icon Dato’ Zainalabidin with the Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra.
Also performing are Sarawak-born Nathanie Ngu, Greg Tan and Ai Furusato through the Berklee Asia Rising programme, Indonesia’s Matthew Sayersz and Marclesia Karim, Australia’s Brekky Boy, and Sweden’s Platina Jazz.
Dato’ Zainalabidin’s performance will also mark his 50 years in music, with the singer performing alongside the Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra in a special 17-piece big-band arrangement.
Platina Jazz, meanwhile, is known for its jazz interpretations of popular anime music, making their performances something anime fans would not want to miss.
More Than Just Music
The theme “Beyond Jazz” is more than just a promotional slogan as Borneo Jazz 2026’s collaboration with Berklee Asia Rising, a programme associated with Berklee College of Music, will be used to put greater emphasis on artist development and education.
The programme will include workshops, masterclasses and collaborative sessions, providing opportunities for emerging musicians to engage with established artists and practitioners.
In addition to that, the festival will also introduce the Borneo Jazz Fun Run, a non-competitive 5km event scheduled for the morning of 5 December.
The Festival Village will operate from 10am to 10pm on both festival days, while the main concerts are scheduled for the evenings.
Tickets for Borneo Jazz 2026
Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 offers three ticket categories: VIP, Standard, and Student & Young Adult.
VIP tickets cost RM500 for one day, while a discounted two-day bundle is available at RM400 per day, or RM800 for the full two-day pass.
Standard tickets are RM150 daily, with a 20% discounted bundle at RM120 per day and a two-day pass costing RM240.
Student & Young Adult tickets are RM75 daily, while the two-day pass costs RM150.
The Student & Young Adult category is available to ticket holders aged 18 and below and students with valid student identification.
VIP ticket holders also receive exclusive access to pre-show cocktails and artist meet-and-greet sessions.
Ticket sales are scheduled to open at midnight on 3 October 2026 with details expected on the official website www.jazzborneo.com.
Article sources:
- Borneo Post: Borneo Jazz Festival returns for 20th edition in Miri with ‘Beyond Jazz’ theme this Dec 4
- TVS: Borneo Jazz tampil konsep baharu, Miri jadi lokasi edisi ke-20
- Borneo Jazz Official Website
