About George Town Festival

First held in 2010, George Town Festival is an annual festival held in Penang, Malaysia in honour of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The annual festival celebrates the state’s diverse arts and culture scene encompassing dance, music, theatre, visual arts, film, photography and more. Generally held in historic buildings, back alleys, theatres and other unique spots in the city, the annual festival has grown into a prominent event connecting festival-goers with local and international creatives.

About GTF 2026

Themed “Beyond Boundaries”, George Town Festival 2026 is an invitation to journey into the unseen — to step past comfort, to listen to what is unknown, and to rediscover what art can mean.

The Festival celebrates curiosity and courage: artists who blur divisions, audiences who embrace difference, and moments where imagination knows no limits.

Here, art transcends walls and labels. It moves, evolves, and connects — alive in every encounter, endlessly becoming.

Open Call for Proposals

George Town Festival 2026 welcomes artists who create beyond borders — of medium, discipline, tradition, or language. Whether you work in performance, visual art, community practice, or in the spaces between, we invite you to share your vision. Bring your work into a festival where boundaries dissolve, connections deepen, and art continues to transform.