Gawai Dayak 2027 - Sarawak Harvest Festival

Gawai Dayak falls on 1–2 June every year and is a public holiday in Sarawak. The festival marks the end of the paddy harvest and the start of a new farming cycle for the Iban and Bidayuh peoples of Borneo. The word “Gawai” means festival or ritual in Iban; “Dayak” refers collectively to the indigenous peoples of Borneo. The 2027 celebration falls on the standard dates: June 1 and June 2, both public holidays across Sarawak.

The Celebrations

Festivities begin at midnight on June 1 with the miring - a ritual offering to the spirits of the harvest - followed by the pouring and sharing of tuak, the Iban rice wine. The sape, a plucked lute unique to Borneo, accompanies ngajat performances: the Iban warrior dance characterised by precise footwork and dramatic arm movements. Communal feasts include lemang (glutinous rice cooked inside bamboo over open flame), pansoh (chicken or fish steamed in bamboo with lemongrass and herbs), and a range of traditional kueh.

The open-house tradition extends through the first week of June. Iban and Bidayuh families in Kuching and across Sarawak welcome visitors - colleagues, neighbours, and often strangers - into their homes for food, tuak, and conversation. This window from roughly June 2–7 is one of the most hospitable stretches of the Malaysian calendar.

Longhouse Visits

Some longhouses in Sarawak - particularly on the Lemanak, Skrang, and Batang Ai rivers in the Sri Aman and Betong divisions - accept visitors for Gawai homestays. These are arranged through licensed operators in Kuching and typically cost RM300–500 per person, including overland transport, accommodation in the longhouse, and meals. Booking several months in advance is strongly recommended; capacity is genuinely limited and these packages fill early for the Gawai period.

Longhouse visits require basic cultural preparation. Bring a small gift for the headman’s household - canned goods, biscuits, or a bottle of local spirits are appropriate. Accepting tuak when offered is part of the hospitality exchange; polite refusal is understood, but accepting with goodwill is appreciated. Smart-casual dress is fine; some hosts offer a borrowed traditional garment for photographs.

Kuching for Gawai

In Kuching itself, the city quiets noticeably during Gawai as residents return to their home villages and longhouses. However, the Kuching waterfront padang (open ground near the Sarawak River) hosts a public Gawai celebration with cultural performances open to all. The Sarawak Cultural Village at Santubong, about 35km from the city centre, runs a dedicated Gawai programme during the festival period, with cooking demonstrations, ngajat performances, and access to longhouse replicas representing each of Sarawak’s major ethnic groups.

The village is also the venue for the Rainforest World Music Festival later in June - if you time your Sarawak trip to cover Gawai and extend a week or two, you can combine both.

Getting to Kuching

Kuching is served by direct flights from Kuala Lumpur (roughly 1h40m, RM100–250 with AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines) and from Singapore (about 1h50m). The city centre is 15–20 minutes from Kuching International Airport by taxi or Grab.

Want to experience Gawai Dayak with a guide? Browse tours and cultural experiences in Kuching - licensed operators offer longhouse day trips and Gawai homestay packages from Kuching.