Cover image via KL Festival
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If you're looking for creative things to do in May, Kuala Lumpur's historic city centre will have you covered
Running from 6 to 31 May, KL Festival (KL Fest) will feature arts, performances, and community activities to several heritage locations across the capital, with over 80 programmes happening (700 hours in total) across 25 locations.
Even better, around 90% of the events will be free and open to the public!
This year's theme "Ingatan & Masa Depan (Memory & Tomorrow)" looks at how heritage and shared stories can shape the future of a city
Visitors can expect a mix of traditional and contemporary performances, including modern wayang kulit, theatre, contemporary dance, immersive art installations, and outdoor movie screenings.
Several programmes will also take place across the city, including:
- Weekend film screenings with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS)
- Artskap ASWARA, featuring workshops and performances at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Berkelah di Bawah Layar, a picnic-style outdoor cinema experience at Dataran Merdeka
- Planet KL, an environmental education programme linked to the River of Life initiative
Besides performances, KL Fest will include several community-focused events designed to bring people together
Highlights include Siapa Cacat?, a theatre production led by artists with disabilities at GMBB, Jogeton, a joget dance gathering and competition at Dataran Merdeka, and Irama Pusaka, a three-night heritage music festival at Auditorium Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.
Other programmes include Warung Terang, which turns city alleyways into illuminated art spaces, and The Wayang Women, a wayang kulit performance by an all-women troupe.
KL Fest first launched in 2024, drawing more than 140,000 visitors and activating 26 locations across Kuala Lumpur
KL Fest is organised by Think City and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), with support from the Ministry of Finance Malaysia and the Federal Territories Department.
The festival also ties in with the Visit Malaysia campaign and Kuala Lumpur's recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Design, and has created over 800 job opportunities in Malaysia's creative sector.
