XPLORE SABAH 2026 BRINGS DANUM VALLEY TO THE CITY, ADDS ARM WRESTLING TO ITS LINE-UP

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Sabah's activity tourism platform comes to SICC from 9–11 October with Borneo Nature Tours, TCE Tackle, the Under-9 Futsal Tournament and a brand-new Arm-Wrestling challenge. Free admission for all.

KOTA KINABALU, 1 October 2026 – From 9 to 11 October 2026, Kinabatangan Hall III at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) becomes a three-day meeting point for adventurers, families, sports enthusiasts and travellers. Doors are open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, and admission is free.

Xplore Sabah is more than an outdoor exhibition. It is an activity tourism platform that curates and creates experiences anyone can join, whether they live in Sabah or are visiting from abroad.

Held in alignment with the Visit Sabah Year 2027 campaign, Xplore Sabah 2026 offers something for everyone: visitors can book one of Borneo's great rainforest journeys, gear up for the water, cheer on the next generation of futsal players, and test their own strength on the expo floor.

INTO THE HEART OF BORNEO: DANUM VALLEY WITH BORNEO NATURE TOURS

The headline experience of 2026 is Danum Valley, and visitors can book it right on the expo floor.

Borneo Nature Tours, the inbound nature and adventure specialist within the Sabah Foundation (Yayasan Sabah) Group and operator of the award-winning Borneo Rainforest Lodge, will be handling Danum Valley bookings at Xplore Sabah.

Danum Valley Conservation Area covers some 43,800 hectares in eastern Sabah and is the state's largest protected lowland rainforest. Often described as one of the oldest rainforests on Earth, it is a place of misty canopy, clear rivers and extraordinary biodiversity.



More than 340 bird species and 124 mammal species have been recorded there, and it is one of the best places in Borneo to encounter wild Bornean orangutans, gibbons, Bornean pygmy elephants and, for the very lucky, the elusive Sunda clouded leopard.

Guests at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, set beside the Danum River, explore the forest on guided nature trails, a treetop canopy walkway, night drives and night walks, river tubing and treks to waterfalls.

For travellers who have seen Sabah's islands and mountains, Danum Valley is the wild heart of Borneo still waiting to be discovered.

Visitors can meet the Borneo Nature Tours team at the expo to ask questions, compare packages and make bookings.

ANGLERS, TAKE NOTE: TCE TACKLE ON THE EXPO FLOOR

Fishing enthusiasts have a reason to circle the dates.

TCE Tackle joins this year as an exhibitor, offering quality fishing gear and the latest equipment. Deep-sea veterans and weekend casters alike can browse, compare and swap stories with fellow anglers.

THE UNDER-9 FUTSAL TOURNAMENT RETURNS

Back by popular demand, the Under-9 Futsal Tournament continues on 10 and 11 October.

The tournament nurtures young talent, builds teamwork and gives Sabah's youngest players a big-stage moment in front of family and friends.

Registration is now open, and parents and clubs are encouraged to sign up their teams early.

NEW THIS YEAR: ARM-WRESTLING

Xplore Sabah is adding a fresh competitive challenge in 2026.

Arm-Wrestling makes its debut as a new activity at the expo, open to participants who want to test their strength and to crowds who want to cheer them on.

ORGANISER'S STATEMENT

“Sabah has world-class nature, but visitors remember what they get to do in it. This year you can book Danum Valley, pick up new fishing gear, watch our Under-9 futsal players shine and step up to the arm-wrestling table, all under one roof and all for free. As we build towards Visit Sabah Year 2027, we want Xplore Sabah to be where Sabah’s activity tourism story begins.”

— Chan Kay Yi, Event Co-Organizer, Xplore Sabah Expo 2026

AN OPEN INVITATION TO INDUSTRY

Tour operators, activity providers, outdoor brands, hospitality players and destination partners are invited to take part as exhibitors, sponsors or activity partners.

Limited spaces remain.

EVENT DETAILS

ItemDetails
EventXplore Sabah 2026
Dates9 – 11 October 2026
Time10:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
VenueKinabatangan Hall III, Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu
AdmissionFree
FeaturedDanum Valley bookings by Borneo Nature Tours; TCE Tackle (exhibitor)
ActivitiesUnder-9 Futsal Tournament (10 – 11 October); Arm Wrestling (new)

The event details above are reproduced from the media release's event information table on page 2.

ABOUT XPLORE SABAH

Xplore Sabah is an activity tourism platform and outdoor lifestyle expo dedicated to curating and creating experiences in Sabah for local and international audiences.

It connects travellers, families and enthusiasts with the operators, brands and destinations that bring Sabah's outdoors to life, and it supports the state's tourism growth in line with Visit Sabah Year 2027.


Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

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