#NSTviral: Malaysian duo wows audiences at China New Year Gala 2026 [WATCH]

By NST in January 5, 2026 – Reading time 2 minute

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian duo who performed the traditional folk song Wau Bulan at China‘s prestigious New Year Gala drew widespread praise from internet users after their performance captivated audiences at the international event.

One of the performers, Isa Zubir, a Malaysian working with China Media Group (CMG), said the duo was selected to represent Malaysia at the China New Year Gala Night 2026, held in Lvliang, Shanxi province.

The gala, organised by CMG, is among the largest and most watched television events in China, attracting an annual audience of more than 1.4 billion viewers.

Clips of the Malaysian performance later circulated online, earning positive reactions for showcasing Malaysia’s cultural heritage on a global stage.

According to Isa, Lvliang was chosen as the main venue for this year’s New Year celebrations, requiring the production team to travel from Beijing to record the performance.

@archietiaw Mungkin disampaikan oleh penyanyi tempatan China. Apa²pun.. bangga sesangat bila lagu rakyat Kelate mendunia walaupun sempat dirakam separuh lagu sahaja.. #waubulan #newyear #kelantan #tiktokkelantan #kelatetiktok ♬ original sound – Archie Tiaw

The recording took place at around 2am in freezing conditions shortly after snowfall, with temperatures dropping to minus five degrees Celsius, making the experience physically demanding for the performers.

In an Instagram post, Isa described the experience as deeply meaningful.

“I’m saving this as a memory — a truly priceless experience as a Malaysian in the Great Wall country of China,” he said.

“Being given the opportunity to showcase Malaysian culture and wear traditional baju Melayu at the 2026 New Year Gala, one of China’s most prestigious events, was an extraordinary honour.

“This video was recorded after 2am, in minus five-degree temperatures, right after snowfall. We were literally shivering,” he added.

The Wau Bulan performance was accompanied by music lecturers from Indonesia and China, turning it into a cross-border collaboration that highlighted meaningful regional cultural exchange.

Isa said Malaysia’s participation began after CMG management requested video submissions from several countries for evaluation by the Head of CMG’s Asia and Africa Centre.

“Only three countries were selected — Malaysia, Vietnam and Kazakhstan. Representing Malaysia, we performed the traditional song Wau Bulan to showcase our nation’s cultural identity and heritage on the international stage,” he said.

Isa added that he did not expect to be given the opportunity to perform at such a high-profile event and described the positive reception, particularly online, as a proud moment for Malaysia.

Many Malaysians took to social media to praise the duo’s performance.

“One of Kelantan‘s traditional dikir songs — so beautiful. We Kelantanese are truly proud,” wrote one user.