Artsense Carnival celebrates Malaysia’s diversity through creativity

Children and families are being introduced to Malaysia’s cultural diversity through art, creativity and hands-on experiences at Artsense Carnival 2026: Colours of Malaysia, held at Megah Rise Mall, Petaling Jaya, from Sept 4 to 6.

Organised by Artsense and co-organised by Megah Rise Mall, the three-day carnival aims to encourage children to explore Malaysia’s heritage through activities they can see, create and participate in.

Among the main attractions are Malaysia Art & Culture Workshops, featuring activities centred on Batik, Wayang Kulit paper puppetry, Deepavali decorations, felt Chinese fan-making and Merdeka-themed painting.

The carnival also features the “100 Sun Bear, 100 Malaysian Stories” Art Exhibition, a Kids Bazaar, performances and competitions.

Saturday’s programme includes the CMDC Dance Competition by Dance Zone, International Children Drawing Contest by JCI Petaling Jaya, public speaking activities by ChampsMan Academy and a Kids DJ Performance by DJS Playground. Activities continue on Sunday with an award presentation for “100 Sun Bear” Art Certificates, along with dance and DJ performances.

Artsense founder and director Shawn Yap said the carnival was designed to allow children to interpret Malaysia’s culture through their own creativity.

“Seeing the children experience Malaysia’s culture through art and then express it in their own way is exactly what we hoped to achieve with Artsense Carnival,” he said.

Inclusion and tourism add wider community dimension

Inclusion is another focus, with the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) participating as Charity Partner. Children from NASOM are taking part alongside other participants, while artwork from the autism community is also featured.

The carnival also includes the “Malaysia Through Your Eyes” drawing and colouring competition, organised with JCI Petaling Jaya, involving 100 young participants.

Supported by Tourism Malaysia and Tourism Selangor, the event aligns with the broader Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Selangor 2026 tourism narratives by encouraging families to explore Malaysia’s cultural heritage, destinations and stories.

Tourism Selangor CEO Chua Yee Ling said creative activities could help younger generations develop stronger connections with Malaysia’s culture and tourism offerings.

Artsense said it hopes to expand the carnival into an annual nationwide platform, with future editions potentially reaching Melaka, Johor and Penang.