Events in Penang

Penang has a reputation for being a lively island full of joy, and the festivals that spring up across the region all year round have a lot to answer for in this respect.

George Town Festival (July)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by George Town Festival (@georgetownfestival) on Jun 26, 2019 at 6:39am PDT

The George Town Festival is Penang's annual cultural festival and will be in its 10th edition this 2019. There is a new theme to the event every year; this year's theme seeks to demonstrate the idea of making arts accessible to all, regardless of age or background. Hence, get ready for a myriad of performances ranging from tradition to contemporary, visual arts to theatre, dance to comedy - there will definitely be something for the little artist inside us all.

OBSCURA Festival of Photography (August)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by OBSCURA Festival (@obscurafestival) on Aug 21, 2017 at 11:39pm PDT

OBSCURA Festival of Photography is one of the partners of George Town Festival, apt as they both inspire the arts and culture within the Southeast Asian community. OBSCURE mainly aims to capture the art of storytelling through the photographic medium and thus is a platform for photographers, both amateur and professional, to share their inspirations and stories with one another. Plus, you will be invited to a selection of guest speeches, exhibitions and workshops - it is no wonder that OBSCURA remains one of the biggest photography festivals in the world and attracts some of the most respected individuals in the industry.

International Dragon Boat Festival (December)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Penang Island Paddlez Club (@pipc_dragonboat) on Apr 30, 2019 at 7:50pm PDT

The International Dragon Boat Festival is held anually in December and is a thrilling celebration of honouring the 'spirit of the dragon', as well as the importance of team unity. This river race is bound to excite you as teams go head to head in the waters of Teluk Bahang Dam to the tune of loud beating drums, all for the coveted champion title.

Penang Pesta Chingay Parade (December)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lay Kiat Tan (@laykiattan) on Dec 19, 2018 at 6:59am PST

Did you know? Chingay is a cultural performance which first originated among the Chinese in Penang and was first documented to have been performed in George Town in 1919. When watching this vibrant showcase of Chinese culture, be sure to look out for the entertaining lion dance troupes atop still poles, dragon dance performances and the procession of colourful floats.