The crowds brave the rain with umbrellas and raincoats as they celebrate the New Year’s Eve Countdown 2026 at the Kuching Waterfront, with spirits high despite the wet weather. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (Jan 1): Heavy rain on the final night of 2025 failed to dampen the spirits of thousands who thronged the Kuching Waterfront to usher in the New Year at a vibrant countdown celebration.
Crowds began gathering along the iconic waterfront from the evening for ‘Countdown 2026’, which featured more than 10 performances and culminated in a spectacular musical fireworks display at midnight.
Among those present were Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Wan Junaidi (front, third right) and his wife Fauziah arrive at the New Year’s Eve Countdown 2026 at the Kuching Waterfront, greeting the crowd. – Photo by Chimon Upon
Despite the rain, the crowd remained energetic as renowned Indonesian singer Judika, Malaysia’s powerhouse vocalist Dayang Nurfaizah, Jatt Ali, Naqiu, KRU and several local artistes took turns lighting up the stage.
Singing along under umbrellas and ponchos, the crowd responded with enthusiasm as the atmosphere surged from one high point to another.
One of the key highlights of the night is the achievement of a Guinness World Record for the Longest Cumulative Distance by a Remote-Controlled Multirotor/Drone Relay, marking a first-of-its-kind accomplishment.
The record-setting journey covered 1,706.7 kilometres across Sarawak over six days, using successive GPS-tracked drones to trace an unbroken aerial path from Tanjung Datu to Lawas.
The achievement was officially confirmed on stage by Guinness World Records (GWR) adjudicator Jacob Yip Chong Wai from Hong Kong, followed by the presentation of the GWR certificate to Abdul Karim.
Abdul Karim (left) receiving the Guinness World Record certificate for the Longest Cumulative Distance by a Remote-Controlled Multirotor/Drone Relay from Yip, as Dr Sim looks on. – Photo by Charles Voon
The announcement was accompanied by the world premiere of the ‘Gateway to Borneo’ drone film, a cinematic showcase capturing Sarawak’s landscapes, cultures, and communities from a bird’s-eye perspective.
Last year’s New Year’s Eve countdown at the Kuching Waterfront also drew tens of thousands of revellers and was similarly affected by rain.
However, this year’s celebration featured a noticeably larger crowd and a more expansive programme.
Despite the torrential weather, the festive spirit remained undiminished, underscoring the growing appeal of Kuching’s New Year’s Eve celebrations year after year.
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