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Message from Faisal

Selamat Datang — Welcome to Malaysia!

It is with great pleasure and immense honor that I extend a warm invitation to you to join us in Malaysia for the upcoming 22nd ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2026 (ICOMOS GA2026) in October 2026. We are truly excited to welcome heritage professionals, scholars, and advocates from around the world to our beautiful and culturally rich country.

Malaysia is a vibrant blend of traditions, languages, and communities—a place where heritage lives not just in monuments, but in daily life. As we prepare to gather in Kuching, Sarawak, we look forward to creating a space where ideas flow, collaborations form, and shared values bring us together in the spirit of conservation.

This General Assembly will be an opportunity to explore themes that matter deeply—not just to Malaysia, but to the global community working to protect cultural heritage in all its forms. Whether you’re a long-time ICOMOS member or joining us for the first time, your voice and experience are vital.

We hope you’ll take full advantage of everything this Assembly offers—from insightful sessions and workshops to the chance to discover Malaysia’s many heritage treasures, including the historic cities of George Town and Melaka, Archeological sites of Lenggong and the breathtaking cultural landscapes of Kinabalu & Mulu Mountains, and Niah Cave in Borneo Island.

On behalf of ICOMOS Malaysia, thank you for your dedication to preserving our shared heritage. Your presence in Kuching will make this gathering all the more meaningful. We can’t wait to welcome you with open hearts and warm smiles.

See you in Malaysia in 2026!

Message from Tiong

I am please to welcome colleagues and their families to Kuching, Sarawak in October 2026 for the 22nd ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2026.

As with the earlier iterations of this event on the ICOMOS Calendar, cultural heritage professionals, scholars, and advocates will share insights, foster collaboration, and strengthen our collective commitment to cultural heritage preservation. It is an opportunity for global dialogue in an inspiring setting.

Kuching, with its harmonious blend of natural wonders, Indigenous traditions, and colonial history, is the perfect venue for meaningful conversations and forming memories. The lush rainforests of Sarawak and the World Hertage properties of Niah and Mulu forms the backdrop to the vibrant Kuching Waterfront and the City of Kuching , where culture and nature are intertwined.

The core of our gathering is the five-day Scientific Symposium under the theme “Living Heritage: Respect – Enhance – Accept – Partnership.” This theme speaks to the current global challenges and for inclusive, and respectful approaches to heritage stewardship in a cosmopolitan and rapidly changing world. There will also be public events of interest to delegates and their families and where they can join Malaysians from the polyglot of communities who call Malaysia home. This will be time this event is held in the ASEAN region.

I invite you to join us not only to attend the General Assembly, but to experience the warmth, diversity, and deep heritage of Malaysia. Let us come together in Kuching to shape the future of heritage, in partnership and with purpose.