Thousands attend Kampung Taee Gawai Dayak parade 2026
The vibrant village of Kampung Taee came alive with unmatched cultural energy on June 1, 2026, as thousands of visitors, international tourists, and cultural enthusiasts gathered for the highly anticipated Birarak Gawai Taee Parade.
Celebrated as one of the most community-driven and magnificent harvest festivals in the Serian District, the spectacular Gawai Kampung Taee event transformed the entire village into a sprawling, colorful cultural showcase.
The grand procession captivated attendees with beautifully decorated floats, traditional music, energetic dance performances, and locals proudly donning their stunning Bidayuh traditional costumes along the bustling parade route.
A definitive highlight of the annual Gawai Kampung Taee celebration was the heartwarming hospitality extended by the local community.
Generous villagers opened their homes and hearts along the route, welcoming strangers and friends alike with an abundance of traditional foods, local snacks, and refreshing beverages, offering an unforgettable, deeply immersive cultural experience for all who attended.
This year’s spectacular Gawai Kampung Taee festival gained substantial momentum through powerful collaborations with major corporate partners and sponsors who sought to enhance the overall visitor experience.
Reflecting on the monumental success, Dr. Christopher Kiyui, Chairman of the Gawai Taee Organising Committee, expressed profound gratitude to the visitors, volunteers, and corporate partners.
Organized alongside the JKKK Kampung Taee, the festival drew widespread global media attention and a diverse array of international tourists from China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, cementing the reputation of Gawai Kampung Taee as an essential pillar for preserving Bidayuh heritage while boosting cultural tourism.
Also noted is the presense of Pepsi who returned as the principal sponsor for the third consecutive year. The brand introduced engaging interactive activities including a specially curated photobooth, a hands-on DIY beaded bracelet workshop, and a complimentary beverage corner.
It also unveiled a limited-edition Harvest Festival can, masterfully co-created by East Malaysian artists and cultural storytellers, with proceeds from their limited-edition merchandise sales donated entirely to the local village committee.
In addition to cultural preservation, sustainability also took center stage during Gawai Kampung Taee through the Carls Green Hub initiative, which encouraged ecological responsibility by donating to non-governmental organizations for every three empty cans recycled by festival-goers.
Meanwhile, PROTON added a historic milestone to the day by concluding its massive 10,000 sMILEs Expedition at the village.
Having flagged off from Sabah weeks prior in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026.
An Introduction to Gawai Dayak
Gawai Dayak is an annual harvest festival celebrated by the indigenous Dayak people of Sarawak, Malaysia, and West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Officially observed on June 1st and 2nd, this vibrant festival marks the end of the paddy harvesting season and the dawn of a new agricultural cycle. Rooted deeply in ancestral traditions, it serves as a time of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.
Today, Gawai Dayak is characterized by lively longhouse gatherings, traditional music, rhythmic Ngajat dances, and the sharing of homemade Tuak rice wine.
It remains a powerful, beautiful symbol of indigenous unity, rich cultural pride, and joyful community renewal.
