George town: The 2025/2026 edition of Pesta Pulau Pinang will be the last to be held at Tapak Pesta Pulau Pinang before the festival goes on a six-year hiatus starting next year. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that this pause is needed to facilitate the construction of the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) line and a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) by MRT Corp at the site.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chow mentioned that the announcement of the 58th edition potentially being the final one was made last year, as the event was initially postponed to accommodate the upcoming construction projects. However, recent updates indicate that MRT Corp will take over the site in April 2026, thus allowing the 59th edition of the festival to proceed as planned. This announcement was made during the opening ceremony of Pesta Pulau Pinang 2025/2026 at Tapak Pesta Pulau Pinang, which was officiated by Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, and attended by his wife, Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah.
Chow highlighted that the 59th edition marks the festival's last occurrence before the hiatus, where the first Pesta Fun Walk was held on November 29 as a gesture of the community's continued support. The festival, which began in 1966 as a sales carnival at Padang Kota Lama and Lebuh Macallum, has evolved into a well-loved annual event at Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong since 1974. The rich history of this 59-year journey is commemorated through an exhibition at Galeri Legasi Mutiara, showcasing historical materials, including ticket collections from as far back as 1978, in collaboration with the State Public Library Corporation.
The 8.14-hectare festival ground boasts facilities such as stalls, parking spaces, a surau, toilets, mini-parks, and automated teller machines, alongside pavilions representing North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Aceh, and Thailand, symbolizing diplomatic ties. This year's edition will span 36 days, from December 6, 2025, to January 10, 2026, featuring a range of products from small and medium enterprise entrepreneurs and state agencies. The event will also see participation from the Penang Prime Minister's Department Implementation Coordination Unit, the Penang Regional Development Authority, and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.
Acknowledging the increase in foreign tourists, Chow announced that non-citizens will be charged RM10 for entry, while Malaysian tickets remain at RM5, with free admission for children under 12 and persons with disabilities.