RWMF 2026 Sponsors: Who’s Supporting the Rainforest World Music Festival?

With less than five weeks to go before the opening night, the Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 has received a significant vote of confidence from its industry partners, and at a Sponsors’ Appreciation Day held at the Sheraton Hotel Kuching on 21 May 2026, sponsors, strategic partners, media organisations, and tourism stakeholders gathered to mark the collective commitment ahead of the festival’s 29th edition.

The event is an important signal, particularly given the current climate for international tourism. Travel sentiment is shifting, economic pressures are real, and geopolitical developments are affecting destination choices across the board. The fact that partners across the aviation, media, sustainability, hospitality, mobility, and corporate sectors are standing firmly behind RWMF 2026 says a great deal about the festival’s enduring value.

If you are planning to attend, check out the Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 Complete Guide for everything you need to know about dates, tickets, performers, accommodation, and getting there.

What Was Said at the Sponsors’ Appreciation Day

Speaking at the event on behalf of YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak, put RWMF’s broader significance into clear terms.

“Festivals such as RWMF do far more than entertain. They shape destination identity, strengthen international visibility, encourage cultural exchange, and create meaningful connections between people and places.”

He also highlighted what makes RWMF distinct as a platform: “Through RWMF, the world does not only hear music. The world encounters Sarawak, our rainforest, our traditions, our communities, our hospitality, and our spirit.”

Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor emphasised the collective nature of what makes the festival work, noting that no single organisation could build RWMF on its own. “Every edition of RWMF is shaped by people and partners who continue to contribute their time, expertise, resources, creativity, and belief into making the festival what it is today.”

Official Partners for RWMF 2026

The full sponsorship ecosystem for the 29th edition covers a wide range of sectors. Here is the confirmed list of partners and their roles:

The breadth of this list reflects how RWMF functions as a complete tourism and cultural platform, not simply a music event. Each partner contributes to a different part of the visitor experience — from getting to Kuching (Malaysia Airlines, Firefly) and getting around once there (Avis Budget Malaysia), to what people hear (Astro Radio), see (TV Sarawak), wear (Ripcurl), drink (F&N, Carlsberg), and where they stay (The Waterfront Hotel Kuching).

Sustainability at the Centre

Two of the confirmed partners are specifically sustainability-focused: Cuckoo International at the Platinum tier as a Sustainable Partner, and Solarvest Borneo at the Gold tier.

This reflects RWMF’s ongoing commitment to responsible festival operations. The 2026 edition will continue its established green initiatives: Green Ruai (an eco-educational space at the festival grounds), Green Warriors (a volunteer sustainability team), on-site recycling, water refill stations, and waste-reduction measures. The festival is targeting 10,000 trees planted in Sarawak conservation areas — a goal originally set for the 30th anniversary in 2027 that is now expected to be reached during this year’s edition itself.

The Festival: What to Know

RWMF 2026 takes place on 26–28 June 2026 at the Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong, under the theme “Regenerations: Roots & Rhythms.” The festival is expected to feature over 200 performers from multiple countries.

It was ranked No. 8 in the Top 10 at the Transglobal World Music Chart – Festival Awards 2025, underscoring its continued standing as one of the premier world music events on the global calendar.

For full details on tickets, performers, accommodation, transport, and tips for first-timers, read the complete guide here: Rainforest World Music Festival 2026 Complete Guide