City Focus: Kuala Lumpur
A government-supported initiative to encourage more international shows is driving record numbers of concerts in Malaysia’s capital but familiar challenges remain...
Feature By Oumar Saleh | 16 October 2026
Powered by government support, regional connectivity, and a run of blockbuster on-sales, Kuala Lumpur is in the middle of its most ambitious live music expansion yet.
According to Communications Ministry figures reported by Malaysian news agency Bernama, Malaysia staged more than 450 concerts in 2025 – up from 408 in 2024 – generating nearly RM1.72bn in economic activity. By September, The Straits Times reported that the government had approved 245 international acts to perform nationwide in 2026.
With upcoming shows by The Weeknd and BTS selling out…
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