Citrawarna 2026 Left Visitors Asking: Was This Even For The Public?
The revived cultural showcase attracted visitors from 12 countries as Malaysia pushes forward with its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
- Local talents were largely sidelined, sparking criticism over missed opportunities for Malaysian musicians and creators on a national platform.
- Poor event planning, including VIP delays and a poorly arranged stage, left public attendees frustrated and unable to enjoy performances properly.
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If the use of AI-generated material in promoting Citrawarna 2026 drew widespread criticism, the actual event itself faced even stronger backlash, with many members of the public questioning why local talents were not fully utilised for a showcase that was meant to promote Malaysia and its people to the world.
On Threads, the alleged over reliance on AI-generated music received backlash from the public who described it as soulless.
Among those voicing their disappointment was celebrity Eric Fuzi, who questioned why local talents were not engaged to contribute to the event.
Eric argued that Malaysia is not lacking in musical talent and said opportunities should have been given to local musicians and creators to showcase their abilities on a national platform.
Eric added that the concern was not merely about overlooking local talents, but also about how the allocation for a programme of such scale could have been distributed more broadly to benefit Malaysia’s creative community.
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Another user @alfalmn criticised the delay in the programme’s start, allegedly caused by the late arrival of VIP guests during the Citrawarna 2026 finale at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday night, held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
“Scheduled to start at 8.30pm, but you arrive at 9.45pm? Ridiculous,” the user wrote, expressing frustration over the delay.
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have arrived at the event at around 9.35pm.
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
The delay drew further criticism from other Threads users, who expressed sympathy for the performers who had already begun their performances before the arrival of the VIP guests.
Beyond the timing issue, attendees also questioned the event’s layout, claiming the stage arrangement was not visitor-friendly, with many members of the public forced to watch from behind the stage area. Some also criticised the lack of large screens or proper viewing areas that would allow the crowd to enjoy the performances.
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Others questioned the organiser’s capability in managing an event of such scale, with some claiming the execution did not match the expectations of a major national tourism showcase.
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The limited performance space also reportedly forced several groups to perform in front of covered tents rather than facing the audience directly.
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It remains unclear whether this was part of the planned choreography or a result of the stage limitations. However, the crowd erupted with excitement when the performers eventually turned around and faced the audience, giving them a moment they had been waiting for.
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Returning after a several-year hiatus, Citrawarna 2026 has reportedly attracted more than 700 international tourists from 12 countries, including China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France, through specially curated tourism packages, according to Berita Harian.
The participation is seen as a positive boost for the event, which was revived as part of efforts under the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign to showcase the country’s diverse cultural heritage and attract more foreign visitors.
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