From Friday, 13 September, to Sunday, 15 September, the beaches of Desaru Coast were alive with excitement during the inaugural Ombak Festival. With live performances by iconic global superstars Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Macy Gray, and The Cardigans, the multi-faceted festival drew an enthusiastic crowd and set a new benchmark for family-friendly festival experiences in the region.
Photo by Sunlee Khan
A fusion of cultural festivities, exceptional music, gastronomic curation, and visual art showcases, Ombak Festival attracted more than 5,000 attendees from across the globe. Excited festival goers and families seized the chance to enjoy a relaxing and comfortable stay at DesaruCoast’s premier properties, including Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, AnantaraDesaru Coast Resort & Villas, and One&Only Desaru Coast, while fully immersing themselves in the vibrant festival atmosphere at tranquil shoreside venues.
“We are incredibly grateful for the trust and support from our festivalgoers in making the inaugural Ombak Festival a resounding success – it truly means the world to us,” said Karina Ridzuan, Director of Ombak
Festival. “The energy and joy shared by everyone was also palpable to the headliners, with Grace Jones and Nile Rodgers buzzing from the excitement from the crowd.”
Photo by Sunlee Khan
“Ombak Festival is the first of our many efforts to put Desaru Coast on the regional map for memorable events and once-in-a-lifetime occasions, in the lead up to Visit Johor Year 2026. We believe Ombak Festival exceeded these expectations, with its ability to draw in global superstars and curate a strong line-up of chefs, artists, and kids programming highlighting Desaru Coast as a premier setting for world-class events,” Karina said.
The festival opened on Friday 13 September with a lively barbeque at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort beachfront, showcasing flavours from Carbon KL and Reka: Bar, before segueing into an intimateOmbak Supper Club with the Stars by Yellow Fin Horse and reaching a crescendo with All Q’ued Up, featuring music odyssey by British DJ Quantic.
Photo by Sunlee Khan
Highlights of the festival over the next two days included breathtaking live performances by some of the world’s most renowned musicians on Ombak Main Stage, including the legendary Grace Jones, R&B and soul artist Macy Gray, music visionary Nile Rodgers & CHIC, and Swedish pop band The Cardigans. Local and regional names include Johor’s very own Joe Flizzow, Singapore’s Aisyah Aziz, Indonesia’s Thee Marloes, Thailand’s Maft Sai as well as Masdo and Bunga.
Photo by Sunlee Khan
The festival also played host to a plethora of events featuring award-winning chefs, includingEmber Beach Club Brunch by Chef Andrew Walsh, Latin Street Flavours by Feliz, Kitchen Takeover byCarbon KL, Flavours of Borneo by Reka:Bar, Vér and Chocha Foodstore, and An Exploration of Nusantara Cuisine with food author Khir Johari and Chef Adu Amran. Chef Adu also showcased the best of Johor street food in Streets & Beats.
Photo by Sunlee Khan
Other events included intricate installations celebrating Malaysia and regional artists’ heritage by contemporary artist Abdul Multhalib Musa, Ernest Goh of Ayer Ayer, and a myriad of fashion and lifestyle collections at the FestivalVillage @ Riverside. Families attending the festival found engaging and entertaining activities for their kids in Ombak Kids’ Silent Disco, Star Wars-inspired Wayang Kulit, Storytelling SG sessions, and explored Johorean folklore through Meera & Fiz, two specially- commissioned giant puppets by Thailand’s Nice Monster studio and Malaysian producer Lina Tan.
For more information about future events and activities at the coastal destination, Desaru Coast, visit www.desarucoast.com.
