Kuching International Comedy Week to bring regional, global acts to city this October
by Aliah Abdullah · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (Aug 20): Kuching will host the inaugural Kuching International Comedy Week (KICW) 2026 from Oct 18 to 24, featuring comedians from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and other countries.
Held in collaboration with WAK Festival and Front Row Comedy Sentral, the week-long programme will take place at selected venues across the city.
Front Row Entertainment executive director and KICW 2026 executive producer Zaid Zaini said the collaboration would introduce a dedicated comedy programme within the month-long WAK Festival.
“This inaugural festival is about putting Kuching firmly on the comedy map — not just for audiences in Sarawak, but also for visitors from Singapore, Brunei, Kalimantan, Malaysia and the wider region,” he said in a statement.
The programme was unveiled following the launch of the 2026 WAK Festival calendar by State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at The Spring Shopping Mall here today.
Abdul Karim said WAK Festival had continued to expand since its introduction in 2017, attracting more collaborators and partners. Its eighth edition will feature a special week-long comedy programme organised by festival partner Front Row Entertainment.
The KICW line-up includes Malaysian comedians Jacky Ng and Kavin Jay, magician-comedians Aman Alhamid and Adrian Saw, as well as Annie Yang, Mad Sabah and Dave the Excel Sorcerer.
The programme will also feature a live edition of the KopiShop Konversations podcast.
The week will culminate in the Yumbo Dump Body Show, featuring the performer who gained recognition through America’s Got Talent.
Besides stand-up comedy, KICW will feature collaborations and special events at various venues across Kuching throughout the week.
The organisers said the event would complement the month-long WAK Festival and contribute to Kuching’s growing profile as a destination for arts, culture and entertainment.
More information on KICW 2026 is available at www.frontrow.asia.