First held in 2010, George Town Festival is an annual festival held in Penang, Malaysia in honour of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The annual festival celebrates the state’s diverse arts and culture scene encompassing dance, music, theatre, visual art, film, photography and more. Generally held in historic buildings, back alleys, theatres and other unique spots in the city, the annual festival has grown into a prominent event connecting festival-goers with local and international creatives.
George Town Festival 2026 is an invitation to journey into the unseen — to step past comfort, to listen to what is unknown, and to rediscover what art can mean. The Festival celebrates curiosity and courage: artists who blur divisions, audiences who embrace difference, and moments where imagination knows no limits. Here, art transcends walls and labels. It moves, evolves, and connects — alive in every encounter, endlessly becoming.
George Town Festival 2026 is a project by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), organised by TLM Event, endorsed by the Penang State Government and the Penang State EXCO Office for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE). It is fully supported by the City Council of Penang Island (MBPP), Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) and Penang Global Tourism (PGT).
