Tenom HPPNS 2026: coffee festival, kopi tarik record bid and special train

A mass kopi tarik record bid

Tenom hosts Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan Sabah (HPPNS) 2026, the state's day honouring farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen, from 23 to 25 October 2026, and visitors can expect a coffee festival, produce and seafood stalls and a mass kopi tarik record attempt Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). Daily Express (Harian Ekspres) reported on 14 October 2026 that about 2,000 participants are expected to prepare kopi tarik together, aiming for an entry in the Malaysia Book of Records Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, Sabah's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, said the decision was taken at the final meeting of the state-level HPPNS main committee, which he chaired Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). He added that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is due to open the celebration at 10am on 24 October 2026 Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). A separate idea, a record for the largest number of coffee drinkers, has been put off to 2027 because space at the 2026 venue is fairly limited, according to Jamawi Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

Before you go

The essentials as the two published reports give them: the dates are 23 to 25 October 2026, and the stalls are on the Tenom town field and around Dewan Antanom Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). Children's and sports activities are listed at Dewan Masyarakat Tenom Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). Entry charges, stall opening hours, how to join the kopi tarik attempt and how to book train seats are not stated, so check with the organisers and the Sabah State Railway Department before travelling Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

• Opening ceremony: 10am on 24 October 2026 Daily Express (Harian Ekspres)
• Train fare: RM7.50 one way or RM15 return from Tanjung Aru Daily Express (Harian Ekspres)
• Train seats: limited to about 180 passengers a day Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah)
• Night event for visitors aged about 55 and over: Pesta Kilauan Emas on 23 October 2026 Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah)

Coffee, seafood and farm stalls

Organisers are aiming for roughly 4,000 visitors at the state-level Pesta Kopi, Sabah's coffee festival, which Sayang Sabah said is returning for the first time since 2015 Daily Express (Harian Ekspres) Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). Jamawi said around 70 exhibitors from across Sabah, as well as from Sarawak, are expected to show their coffee products Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

About 200 exhibition stalls are planned, covering crops, livestock and fisheries along with a display of live animals, and Sayang Sabah reported a further 100 stalls selling agricultural products Daily Express (Harian Ekspres) Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). An Agro Seafood Festival is also planned, with a line of stalls about 200 feet long selling seafood and fishery products at what the minister called reasonable prices; specific prices are not stated Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). Farm produce, fruit seedlings, live animals and goods from local entrepreneurs will be on sale Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

Special train from Tanjung Aru

The Sabah State Railway Department will run a special express train between Tanjung Aru and Tenom on 23, 24 and 25 October 2026, stopping only at Papar and Beaufort instead of the regular service's many stops Daily Express (Harian Ekspres) Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). Each trip has four coaches carrying about 180 passengers Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). Boarding is at Tanjung Aru Railway Station near Wisma Muis, chosen because its large car park is free Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

The two reports give different departure times. Daily Express reported on 14 October 2026 that the train leaves Tanjung Aru at 6am and returns at 3pm Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). Sayang Sabah reported on 16 October 2026, from a radio interview with the minister, that it leaves Tanjung Aru at 7.30am, reaches Tenom at 10am, and leaves Tenom at 3pm to arrive back at 7pm Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). The 16 October report is the more recent, but confirm the time with the railway department before setting out Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

Jamawi encouraged people from Kota Kinabalu, Kepayan, Penampang and nearby areas to take the train rather than drive Daily Express (Harian Ekspres).

Awards for producers

According to Jamawi, 177 farmers, breeders, fishermen and rubber producers will be recognised during the celebration, and 50 special awards will go to the best performers in their fields Daily Express (Harian Ekspres). Ten river fishers are to receive equipment such as boats and outboard engines, because inland fishers have long received less attention than those at sea, he said Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

Tenom was chosen because the district is among Sabah's leading producers of fruit and farm crops, the minister said, sending out about 20 containers of pomelo a week as well as avocados, bananas and coffee Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

Tenom Coffee Valley near the station

Visitors arriving by train can find Tenom Coffee Valley in the town centre, about 160 m from the station; it also houses the Tenom Tourism Information Centre Sabah Tourism Board. More on the area is on the Tenom district page Sabah Tourism Board.