Melaka’s heritage core turns into an ASEAN stage this October.
The Festival Pertukaran Budaya: Meraikan Warisan Silang Budaya 2026 (Cultural Exchange Festival: Celebrating Cross-Cultural Heritage) runs from 31 October to 2 November in Banda Hilir. The three-day programme, organised by the Department of National Heritage, brings together heritage and culture from across Malaysia and neighbouring ASEAN countries, with Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand confirmed to take part.
What’s on
The opening ceremony and a cultural parade kick things off on 31 October, moving through Banda Hilir with performers from different ethnic groups and cultures across Malaysia and the region. Expect a Mak Yong performance, a form of traditional Malay dance-drama recognised as intangible heritage, alongside lion and dragon dance performances from China.
Beyond the parade, the festival fills out with seminars, talks, exhibitions and food stalls spread across several venues in the heritage district, including the Muzium Rakyat (People’s Museum), the Muzium Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam, and the grounds of the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum.
Plan your visit
Melaka’s tourism authorities say the goal is to give local traders around the festival area a boost while adding another heritage-focused draw to the city’s autumn calendar. Final participation numbers from Malaysian states and ASEAN countries are still being confirmed ahead of the event.
If you’re building a Banda Hilir day around the festival, pair it with the usual heritage-core stops nearby, St Paul’s Church, the Stadthuys and a walk along Jonker Walk, all within easy reach of the palace museum grounds.
