Borderland Music Fest 2026 kicks off with 9,000-strong crowd

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Sept 12: The foothills of Mount Santubong erupted into a sea of lights, deep basslines and dancing crowds as some 9,000 festivalgoers turned up for the opening night of Borderland Music Festival 2026 last night (Sept 11).

Set against the dramatic backdrop of one of Sarawak’s most iconic landmarks, the two-day festival kicked off at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) with a steady stream of local, regional and international acts, building the atmosphere from early evening into a full-scale electronic music spectacle.

The night got underway with joint sets from Fizz B2B Mago, Chukiess & Whackboi B2B Boriz, Veena, and DNA featuring MC Parkz, as the crowd gradually swelled across the festival grounds.

The energy shifted when Indonesian hip-hop star RAMENGVRL took over the stage alongside Indahkus, Dia and Kenz, bringing a heavier hip-hop flavour to the night.

Following the grand opening ceremony at 8.45pm, international EDM acts Blasterjaxx and Ben Nicky pushed the intensity higher, with pounding beats, flashing lights and bursts of pyrotechnics keeping the crowd on its feet.

The night reached its final crescendo at 11pm when Dutch DJ and producer Arcando took over the decks as the Day 1 headliner.

With thousands still packed in front of the stage, Arcando drove the festival into its final stretch with a high-energy set, backed by pulsating lighting, pyrotechnics and bursts of flame that punctuated the performance.

The headliner brought the opening night to a fiery close, with the crowd dancing through the final beats as the lights and music swept across the foothills of Mount Santubong.

But the party is far from over, with Day 2 kicking off at 3.30pm today with Yibi B2B Lele.

The second day will feature Mia Q B2B Rad Kid, Hades, Ezra Hazard, Tiger Burger & Friends, Mariana BO, Juelz and KSHMR before the festival concludes with an ending ceremony at 11.55pm. — DayakDaily

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