First Ipoh Festival to bring arts events across the city from Nov 27
The programme runs until Dec 19, with café theatre, outdoor cinema, craft displays and exhibitions spread across venues including Ipoh Old Town.
Ipoh will host its first Ipoh Festival from Nov 27 to Dec 19, 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions and community activities to venues throughout the city. Organisers said the initiative brings local artists, cultural organisations and businesses together.
Instead of using one main site, the festival will take place in cafés, galleries, historic buildings and public areas, particularly in Ipoh Old Town. An information centre at 22 Hale Street Heritage Gallery will help visitors explore the city's heritage, history and food.
Programmes include the Ipoh Mali Theatre Society's Food and Arts Crawl, which pairs musical theatre with visits to different venues, and a separate music crawl by Indiescape. Ipoh Padang will host outdoor film screenings, while Tin Alley will feature traditional crafts. Artisans and local businesses will participate in the Artisan Rhythm Market on Jalan Bandar Timah.
The visual arts line-up includes Senitra Studio Gallery's Rootbound: Origin and Boundless Expression, alongside Yellow, an exhibition drawing inspiration from Ipoh and Perak. Workshops, documentaries, dance and music are also scheduled across four weekends, with performers including the Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra and Kumpulan Selendang Perak.
Organisers intend the inaugural edition to lay the groundwork for an annual city festival. Ipoh City Council and Tourism Perak are supporting the event, with sponsorship from 22 Hale Street Heritage Gallery and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd. Entry is free, though some activities require advance registration.
