Sayembara Tari

Organised by Era Dance Theatre Ltd, Sayembara Tari is a dynamic dance competition that celebrates the richness of traditional and contemporary Malay dance among youths in the Nusantara. In 2026, the competition is dedicated entirely to zapin dance, in support of Singapore's efforts to seek UNESCO recognition of zapin as intangible cultural heritage.

Open to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, the competition provides a platform for young dancers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to showcase their creativity, discipline and cultural knowledge through this iconic heritage form.

The competition will take place on 14 November 2026 at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade, where schools from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia will compete in their respective categories.

Each team comprises eight to 12 dancers and has up to five minutes to performance.

Muara Festival is presented by Era Dance Theatre in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay as part of Esplanade’s Pentas series.