Sarawak’s 2026 celebrations of Malaysia Day are on again on 16 Sept, but are held indoors because of the poor air quality caused by the haze. The main national celebration will not be held at Kuching’s Borneo Convention Centre (KCC) primarily due to the weather, and will be held inside during the evening. The decision is made because heavy air pollution in certain parts of Sarawak, especially in the Kuching, Serian and Samarahan areas, is hazardous. The bottom line for those intending to attend is Malaysia Day is in no way cancelled, rather the programme is being modified to ensure public health safety.
Malaysia Day 2026 in Sarawak Moves Indoors
Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil, chairman of the National Day and Malaysia Day Celebrations Main Committee, said on September 2 it had confirmed that the celebration would continue at BCCK on September 16.
The Cabinet, however, noted the severity of the haze situation in Sarawak especially in Kuching and Serian and decided that no outdoor events could proceed as planned. The main event of Malaysia Day 2026 will therefore take place in the evening in the BCCK premises.
BCCK is confirmed to be the venue of the national celebration in Sarawak on Wednesday, September 16 by the official Merdeka360 calendar.
Check the official Malaysia Day 2026 event calendar
How Serious Is the Sarawak Haze?
Hazardous Air Quality Recorded Near Kuching
The decision reflects a significant deterioration in air quality.
Three places in Sarawak marked hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) at 8am on Sept 2. The number of people who died in the attack was recorded by Serian District Police Headquarters as 320, followed by 318 for Kuching and 302 for Samarahan.
The decision to lift the ban on Malaysia Day has come on the heels of the haze that has already caused public events to be hampered. The state-level National Day event in Kapit, Sarawakku Sayang program in Mukah and other big events have been deferred in anticipation.
When the air is unhealthy, authorities have urged people to limit their outside activities.
Sarawak Haze Has Already Changed Major Events
The cancellation of the Malaysia Day outdoor event falls under a series of changes induced by the persistent haze.The Malaysia Day outdoor event cancellation is part of the larger series of changes due to the prolonged haze.
The Maulidur Rasul programme was brought indoors to Sarawak and the procession was dropped due to haze and hot weather conditions.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee has also urged the organizers of the event to take into consideration the current level of API readings before beginning outdoor programs. Organisers are strongly encouraged to re-evaluate outdoor exercise, sport and physical activity and other activities that involve physical exertion when the API level is greater than 200, especially when vulnerable groups are involved.
This is why authorities are taking a cautious approach in maintaining the symbolic value of Malaysia Day 2026 in Kuching while minimising exposure to polluted outdoor air is taking place.
Can Cloud Seeding Reduce the Haze?
Worsening situation has resulted in Malaysia considering cloud-seeding operations as part of the country’s response.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the plans for the operation in several areas in Sarawak namely Batang Ai, Bakun, Murum, Bengoh, Gerugu, Assyakirin, Sika and Matang. The players are the National Disaster Management Agency, MetMalaysia and Royal Malaysian Air Force.
But on September 2, Fahmi said that the clouds in the sky were not suitable for the planned operation as clouds might be blown towards the South China Sea, causing rainfall to fall elsewhere.
Malaysia and Indonesia have also agreed to further strengthen measures against the transboundary haze, with the Malaysian authorities saying that El Niño conditions could worsen towards October.
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What Visitors Should Know About Malaysia Day 2026
The most recent announcement should not be viewed as an indication that the national celebration is not happening.
The official programme for BCCK is still planned for September 16, but the outdoor parts will not take place as yet. Preparations had been made for some 5,000 people to attend the main BCCK event.
It is advisable for those who plan to travel to Kuching to check the air quality situation and official notification nearer to the day of the visit as the haze episode may change in a short span of time.
MALAYSIA DAY is also confirmed by the official calendar of the Government of Malaysia, on 16th September 2026.
View Malaysia’s official 2026 government calendar
FAQs
Is Malaysia Day 2026 cancelled in Sarawak?
No. The national Malaysia Day 2026 celebration will proceed indoors at BCCK in Kuching on September 16. Outdoor events have been cancelled because of haze.
Why were Malaysia Day outdoor events cancelled?
Authorities cited worrying haze conditions in Kuching and Serian and concerns about public health and safety.
Where will Malaysia Day 2026 be held?
The national celebration is scheduled at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Sarawak.
How bad is the haze in Sarawak?
On September 2, API readings reached hazardous levels above 300 at monitoring locations in Serian, Kuching and Samarahan.
