Cultural Festivals in Sabah: Discover the Soul of Borneo

• why-sabahs-festivals-matter - Why Sabah's Festivals Matter
• 1-kaamatan-harvest-festival-celebrating-life-and-rice - 1. Kaamatan Harvest Festival: Celebrating Life and Rice
• 2-regatta-lepa-the-bajau-celebration-of-seafaring-heritage - 2. Regatta Lepa: The Bajau Celebration of Seafaring Heritage
• 3-kalimaran-festival-honouring-murut-culture - 3. Kalimaran Festival: Honouring Murut Culture
• 4-sandakan-festival-cultural-flavours-on-the-coast - 4. Sandakan Festival: Cultural Flavours on the Coast
• 5-tamu-besar-kota-belud-the-grand-market-experience - 5. Tamu Besar Kota Belud: The Grand Market Experience
• the-power-of-participation-in-sabah-festivals - The Power of Participation in Sabah Festivals
• plan-your-cultural-journey-with-uak-travel - Plan Your Cultural Journey with UAK Travel

1. Why Sabah's Festivals Matter

The cultural festivals in Sabah are more than just vibrant spectacles—they are living expressions of community, identity, and history. In a state known for its lush rainforests and stunning coastlines, it's the people—and their deeply rooted traditions—that truly define the heart of Sabah.

These festivals serve as bridges between generations, ethnic groups, and even international visitors. Whether you're drawn by rhythmic gongs or the aroma of local delicacies, Sabah’s festivals offer a rare lens into the soul of Borneo.

2. 1. Kaamatan Harvest Festival: Celebrating Life and Rice

Kaamatan, celebrated every May by the Kadazan-Dusun people, is Sabah’s most iconic cultural event. Known as the Harvest Festival, it marks the end of the rice-harvesting season and pays homage to Bambaazon, the rice spirit.

From traditional dances like the Sumazau to the highly anticipated Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, Kaamatan is a tapestry of joy, respect, and spirituality. During one festival, local teacher Monica said, “It’s the only time my urban students see how rice is more than food—it's culture.”

Visitors can expect open houses, free-flowing tapai (rice wine), and performances that pulse with ancestral energy. To truly understand Kadazan-Dusun identity, there’s no better time to visit Sabah than during Kaamatan.

3. 2. Regatta Lepa: The Bajau Celebration of Seafaring Heritage

Held in Semporna every April, Regatta Lepa is a dazzling marine parade honoring the Bajau Laut, Sabah’s “sea gypsies.” Lepa boats, ornately decorated with colorful sails and flags, glide across the water in a celebration of craftsmanship and maritime pride.

It’s not just a race—it’s a full cultural immersion. Families prepare for months to showcase their heritage through boat design, traditional attire, and culinary displays. Local entrepreneur Jamilah recalls, “My grandfather taught me how to carve our family’s boat. It’s more than wood—it’s our history floating.”

This festival is a must-experience for anyone curious about oceanic culture and the stories of a community deeply intertwined with the sea.

4. 3. Kalimaran Festival: Honouring Murut Culture

In the interior district of Tenom, the Kalimaran Festival shines a spotlight on the Murut people—famous historically as fierce warriors, but today better known for their hospitality and musical traditions.

From intricate beadwork demonstrations to blowpipe contests and lansaran (trampoline floor) dances, the Kalimaran Festival offers a grounded, personal encounter with a community often overlooked in mainstream tourism.

For many younger Murut, the festival is also a time to reconnect. Student Elijah shared, “I only learned my great-grandfather’s songs because I came home for Kalimaran. Now, I sing them with pride.”

5. 4. Sandakan Festival: Cultural Flavours on the Coast

Sandakan Festival is a dynamic celebration that merges food, multicultural parades, and coastal traditions. Held annually in this historic port city, the festival honors its diverse heritage—Chinese, Malay, Filipino, and Indigenous.

Whether it’s lion dances echoing down colonial streets or Sabahan seafood prepared using recipes passed through generations, the event is a reminder that culture is often best experienced through the senses.

A popular highlight is the “Taste of Sandakan” food fair, where locals and tourists bond over sambal stingray and handmade kuih. The festival perfectly captures the city’s layered, global personality.

6. 5. Tamu Besar Kota Belud: The Grand Market Experience

More than a marketplace, the Tamu Besar (Grand Market) of Kota Belud is a spectacle of traditional horsemen (Bajau Samah), ethnic performances, and open-air trading. Held every October, it’s the place to see Sabah’s rich ethnic mosaic in full display.

Traders in traditional attire sell everything from handwoven fabrics to medicinal herbs, while cultural troupes perform dances rooted in tribal rituals. The arena battles of Bajau horsemen in colorful garb are a visual feast unlike any other.

Photographer Lydia, who’s attended three years in a row, calls it “the perfect storm of culture, commerce, and color.”

7. The Power of Participation in Sabah Festivals

One of the most powerful aspects of cultural festivals in Sabah is the inclusive spirit they foster. Tourists aren't just observers—they’re invited to dance, eat, craft, and celebrate alongside locals. This interaction turns a vacation into an authentic connection.

Sabah’s festivals are not staged performances; they are lived, loved, and passed down. And by joining in, visitors help keep those traditions alive for generations to come.

8. Plan Your Cultural Journey with UAK Travel

If you’re ready to explore Sabah through its festivals, let UAK Travel help you craft an itinerary that goes beyond sightseeing. Whether you're timing your trip for Kaamatan or planning to sail alongside the Regatta Lepa, UAK Travel connects you with the most authentic experiences and local guides.

Discover the real Sabah—its people, its stories, and its spirit—through a festival journey you’ll never forget.