Tamu Borneo blog

Tamu Besar Kota Belud 2026: dates, what’s on and what is still unconfirmed

The Tamu Besar Kota Belud programme runs from 10 to 18 October 2026. It opens with a Tamu Geopark on 10 and 11 October; the official opening is on 17 October, and one report puts the Tamu Besar’s main days at 17 and 18 October.

· · By Tamu Borneo

Illustration of a stall with woven baskets, folded handwoven textiles, leaf-wrapped food and bagged snacks

Illustration — generated artwork: Baskets, textiles and wrapped food on a fair stall

Key facts

Full programme
10 to 18 October 2026 Sabah Tourism Board Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah)
Opening event
Tamu Geopark Kota Belud, 10 and 11 October, at Dataran Kota Belud Nabalu News
Main days
17 and 18 October Nabalu News
Official opening
17 October Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah)
Expected visitors
About 50,000, according to Deputy Chief Minister Ewon Benedick Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah)

Event dates

What’s on, by date

The programme opens with the Tamu Geopark Kota Belud on 10 and 11 October at Dataran Kota Belud, organised by Sabah Parks with the Kota Belud district office Nabalu News. The Sabah Tourism Board lists the same two days Sabah Tourism Board.

Deputy Chief Minister Ewon Benedick told reporters in September that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Sabah’s head of state, would officially open the Tamu Besar on 17 October, with the Chief Minister attending Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

He said some of the main events would be held at the tamu site, while competitions such as buffalo and cattle races would take place at the Kota Belud field or town square. He added that the Tamu Besar would feature cultural programmes from the Bajau, Iranun, Dusun and other communities, and put the expected attendance at about 50,000 Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

The full programme and the main days

The Sabah Tourism Board and the Jabatan Penerangan Sabah report both give 10 to 18 October for the Tamu Besar Sabah Tourism Board Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah). Nabalu News describes the Tamu Geopark as the opening event of a Tamu Besar held on 17 and 18 October Nabalu News, and Ewon Benedick said the Geopark tamu would be held a week earlier Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

Read together, these describe one plan rather than conflicting dates: a programme from 10 to 18 October that opens with the Geopark event and leads up to the official opening on 17 October and the main Tamu Besar days on 17 and 18 October. No source says whether market stalls trade between 12 and 16 October, so that remains unconfirmed. If you are going for the market itself, 17 and 18 October are covered by every source, and the Kota Belud district office can confirm the days in between.

What is expected on sale

Ewon Benedick named parang (machetes), vegetables and ikan liking among the local products associated with Kota Belud that are expected to draw visitors throughout the celebration Sayang Sabah (Jabatan Penerangan Sabah).

Our sourced records for the weekly Kota Belud tamu also list bambangan, penjaram and, occasionally, bosou. None of this article’s sources says whether these will be sold at the Tamu Besar.

Planning a visit

Kota Belud also holds a weekly tamu, separate from the annual Tamu Besar. See the Tamu Kota Belud listing for its market days, the Tamu Besar listing for earlier editions, and plan your visit for timing and what to bring.

Sources