Malaysia Festival 2026: The Spirit of Malaysia in New York came to Resorts World New York City on Saturday, July 11. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., guests could enjoy everything Malaysia has to offer, including food, beverages, entertainment and more. The event was organized by the Consulate General of Malaysia in New York, in partnership with Resorts World New York City and China Airlines.
The festival serves as a flagship East Coast activation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. According to the press release, Visit Malaysia Year 2026 “underscores Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable tourism development, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The campaign aims to showcase the nation’s diverse natural attractions, rich cultural heritage and vibrant tourism offerings, while driving inclusive growth and long-term value for local communities and industry stakeholders.”
Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Notable guests included Norhalilah Abdul Jalil, Consul General of Malaysia in New York, and His Excellency Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States.
“This is a one-of-a-kind event that we do here in New York City,” Jalil said. “The Malaysia festival is to introduce New Yorkers [to] Malaysia, because people always know about Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, but they miss Malaysia. We are actually located at the heart of Southeast Asia. We bring them here so they can experience what Malaysia has to offer.”
Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Malaysia Festival featured a variety of vendors, some even hailing from Queens. One of the vendors included Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen, which sold condiments ranging from mild to spicy. Founded by Auria Abraham, her products have been featured on the Drew Barrymore show, the New York Times, bon appetit, Food and Wine and the Wall Street Journal.
Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen table. Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Four of the products featured at Abraham’s table are called “Sambal,” which are chili pepper condiments. She also sold coconut jams, known as “Kaya,” which can be put on toast, and spice blends, which helps with cooking Malaysian dishes.
Another table featured products from Oldtown Coffee – a Flushing-based company who sold White Coffee. White coffee is unique to Malaysia, originating from the region of Ipoh. The coffee beans are roasted with palm oil margarine, and the coffee is served with condensed milk, resulting in a lighter cooler and less bitterness.
The Oldtown coffee table. Photo by Alice Moreno
Oldtown coffee sold three different kinds of flavors, including hazelnut, less sugar and original classic. They had a new product as well, where one can dissolve the instant coffee in hot or cold water.
Photo by Alice Moreno
Aside from the vendors, Malaysia Festival 2026 featured live batik and handicraft displays. Batik is an ancient wax-resistant dyeing technique to create designs on fabric. A tourism exhibit was displayed, where guests could win a trip to Malaysia, flying via China Airlines.
To conclude the event, VIP gave remarks regarding Malaysia; cultural performances were showcased and a drawing was held, where guests could win prizes.
One of the cultural performances. Photo by Alice Moreno