The Pre-Launch Ceremony of the National Level International Museum Day Festival (FHMAPK) 2026 was officiated by Mohd Masni bin Wakiman, District Officer of Johor Bahru on 8th June at the Main Hall of the Sultan Abu Bakar Heritage Complex.
The National Level International Museum Day Festival (FHMAPK) 2026 will further enliven the country’s museum landscape by promoting the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World”, emphasising the significant role of museums as institutions capable of bringing together communities separated by geographical boundaries, cultural differences, language and social backgrounds.
Museums not only serve as centres for heritage preservation but also as spaces for dialogue, understanding and unity across various communities.
The International Museum Day 2026 will be held from 23rd to 30th June in Johor, and this year marks the 29th celebration of International Museum Day at the national level, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Unity through the Department of Museums Malaysia and the Johor State Government through the Johor Heritage Foundation.
Yayasan Warisan Johor has been selected as the official host for 2026, and Johor’s selection as the host aligns with efforts to further strengthen the state’s role as a premier heritage and cultural tourism destination, particularly in conjunction with Visit Johor Year 2026.
The festival is expected to attract more than 125,000 visitors, involving 36 state and federal museum institutions and agencies, 12 international participants, seven side festivals, and participation from over 1,000 contingents from across Malaysia.
In his speech, Masni stated, “This strategic collaboration between the Federation and the State will not only enliven the programme, but also serve as a tourist attraction, in line with the aspiration of Menteri Besar Johor who has set an ambitious target of welcoming 12 million tourists to Johor based on two main strategies: upgrading tourism infrastructure to the highest standard and aggressively promoting tourism products.”
The 2026 National-Level International Museum Day Festival is expected to serve as a key platform in strengthening the role of museums as educational institutions, heritage preservation entities, and social development agents, as well as supporting efforts to make Johor a premier cultural and heritage tourism destination in Malaysia.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Datuk Kamarul Baharin bin A. Kasim, Director-General of the Department of Museums Malaysia, Nor Syazlan bin Abd Razak, Director of the Yayasan Warisan Johor, and Directors of State Museums and Institutions.
