What began as a small flash mob in Kuala Lumpur has grown into one of Malaysia’s most anticipated Malaysia Day celebrations. This year, Keretapi Sarong marks a decade of its journey by bringing the tradition to 10 cities across Malaysia.
Organised by LOCCO, Keretapi Sarong 2026 (KS26) will take place on 16 September, coinciding with Malaysia Day. For the first time, the event will be held simultaneously across different parts of Malaysia, rather than being centred in the Klang Valley as in previous editions.
Keretapi Sarong Takes Its Biggest Celebration Across Malaysia
Padang Besar, Langkawi, Sungai Petani, George Town, Ipoh, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kuantan, and Kuching are the 10 cities that will take part in this year’s Keretapi Sarong celebration.
In the Klang Valley, participants will gather at 12 starting stations before travelling together to a secret destination. From the moment they set off, they will wear sarongs, batik, songket, or other traditional attire and use public transportation as part of the celebration.
This format makes the journey to the destination more than just a commute. It is part of the Keretapi Sarong experience itself. Participation has also continued to grow, from around 12,000 people in 2024 to more than 20,000 in 2025, when participants departed from 11 starting stations across the Klang Valley.
For KS26, one of the starting stations will also be designated specifically for women. Women Station Only, introduced together with Light+ and Tema Girls, will allow girls and women to gather at one starting point and celebrate Keretapi Sarong together.
Participants are also encouraged to use public transportation where available. Information on gathering locations and times can be found on Instagram and X at @locco.my, Facebook at LOCCO, TikTok at locco.my, and LOCCO’s official website.
“Joget Sarong” Becomes Its First Official Song
KS26 will also mark the first time Keretapi Sarong has an official song. Titled “Joget Sarong,” the song was created to bring the spirit of togetherness at the heart of Keretapi Sarong into music while celebrating Malaysia’s cultural diversity.
The song is positioned as the musical identity of Keretapi Sarong and is intended to continue being sung, embraced, and passed down to future generations.
Over the past decade, Keretapi Sarong has brought people from different backgrounds together through traditional attire and shared journeys in public spaces. This format has become part of how the celebration brings culture into everyday life, particularly through the use of public transportation.
Shamsul Bahrine Zainuzzaman, co-founder of LOCCO, said the 10th anniversary celebration also belongs to the people who have taken part in Keretapi Sarong throughout its journey.
“This 10th anniversary belongs to every Malaysian who has ever boarded a train wearing a sarong and celebrated alongside people they may never have met before,” he said.
For Shamsul, that shared experience reflects how heritage can continue to live when it is celebrated and carried forward together. “We want to bring culture out of exhibition spaces and return it to the centre of people’s lives. We want tradition to ride the trains. We want heritage to wait on the platforms,” he said, describing the idea that has shaped every Keretapi Sarong journey since its beginning.
Ten years on, that idea remains unchanged. “I still believe that the true meaning of Keretapi Sarong is not just in the sarong or traditional attire we wear. It lies in who is standing beside us,” he said.
