The first-ever Borneo Animation & Games Festival (BAGFEST) 2026 will take place at Pullman Hotel Kuching and The Hills Kuching in Sarawak this 19 – 23 August. Held under the theme “Forging Sarawak’s Digital Future as the Regional Hub for Animation & Games”, the event aims to empower creative talent among Sarawak youth, nurture local IP, and drive economic impact in the digital economy.
The event is divided into two tracks: a B2B conference aimed at working professionals in the creative industry; and BAGFEST Con, an animation and cosplay festival open to all members of the public. Conference tickets start at RM50 for students and RM250 for professionals, while BAGFest Con remains free of charge.
B2B Conference
Happening at Pullman Hotel Kuching from 19 – 21 August, attendees to the BAGFEST B2B conference will be able to catch keynotes from some of the biggest names in the global creative industry. Highlights include Rob Doherty, Vice President of Production at Hasbro Entertainment; Sidney Kombo, Lead Animation Supervisor at Wētā FX; and Lyon Liew, Technical Director for Simulation at Pixar Animation Studios.
Malaysian speakers for the event include Datuk Tuan Haji Burhanuddin Md. Radzi, Founder and Managing Director of Les’ Copaque Production; Usamah Zaid Yasin, Founder and CEO of WAU Animation, creator of the Ejen Ali franchise; and Wan Hazmer from Metronomik, the award-winning game developer behind No Straight Roads.
The programme will also feature various avenues to help empower local creatives, including a business matching session, networking dinner, and elevator pitch competition. A major highlight is the MYFutureJobs Creative Speed Dating Career Fair, organised in collaboration with PERKESO, which aims to connect between 500 and 1,000 jobseekers with employers from Malaysia’s creative industry.
B2B Track (BAGFEST Con)
Over the weekend, the festival opens its doors at The Hills Kuching for BAGFest Con, a free-of-charge animation and cosplay event open to all members of the public. Highlights include an animation, comics and games exhibition, gaming showcases, esports activities, stage performances, cosplay competitions and a Beyblade tournament.
Extending beyond the convention halls, BAGFEST 2026 will also present Wayang Pacak at Taman Perpaduan, Kuching, a unique three-night outdoor animation screening inspired by Malaysia’s traditional open-air cinema culture. Powered by green energy solutions, the programme is envisioned as Sarawak’s first zero-emission outdoor animation screening experience.
Students and emerging professionals will also benefit from portfolio review sessions conducted by experienced animation and games industry mentors.
BAGFEST 2026 is expected to become Borneo’s flagship event for the animation and games industry, serving as a catalyst for innovation, talent development, international collaboration and economic growth while showcasing Malaysia’s creative excellence to the world.
For more information and registration updates, visit https://www.bagf.my.
