Kuala lumpur: The HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival returns for its second edition, drawing participation from eight teams representing government agencies and media organisations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the event is held in conjunction with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebration, featuring teams from the Department of Broadcasting Malaysia (RTM), the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), TV3, Astro Audio News, Berita Harian, Sinar Harian, Media Selangor, and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
HAWANA 2026 project director Mohd Shukri Ishak stated that the second edition, themed 'Journalism and Technology', highlights the evolving media landscape, particularly in integrating traditional elements such as pantun with the increasingly technology-driven nature of information dissemination. He noted that the theme provides an avenue for the creation of pantun that underscores the role and influence of technology in today's media landscape.
The HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival, organised by Bernama in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), is scheduled for May 9 at Panggung Sari, Craft Complex, Jalan Conlay. The programme serves as one of the early events leading up to the main HAWANA 2026 celebration in June.
Prizes for the festival include RM3,000 for the champion along with a trophy and certificate of participation. The runner-up will receive RM2,000, and third place will earn RM1,000, each also receiving a trophy and certificate.
In addition to the Pantun Festival, HAWANA, organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, will feature a variety of events including media forums, a Fun Walk, exhibitions, and a sports carnival. Now in its sixth edition since its introduction in 2018, HAWANA is an annual event that brings together media practitioners to recognise their role and contributions to national development.
Following its inaugural edition in Kuala Lumpur, the main celebration of HAWANA continued in Melaka in 2022, Perak in 2023, Sarawak in 2024, and Kuala Lumpur last year.