Malaysia Halal Lifestyle Festival 2026 to Showcase Food, Fashion, Heritage and Muslim-Friendly Tourism
September 25, 2026Malaysia is set to bring together food, fashion, culture, travel, wellness and local heritage under one roof with the inaugural Malaysia Halal Lifestyle Festival (MHLife) 2026, taking place from 23 to 25 October 2026 at Dataran Karnival, Stadium Shah Alam, Selangor.
Positioned as Malaysia’s premier Muslim-friendly lifestyle and tourism festival, MHLife 2026 was introduced as part of the Islamic Tourism Centre’s (ITC) Islamic Tourism Month (ITM) 2026. The festival is officially supported by strategic partners including RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, Mohd Chan Group Berhad, Siti Khadijah Group and Istana Budaya.
Malaysia’s Growing Muslim-Friendly Tourism Opportunity
According to Chua Choon Hwa, Deputy Director-General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, the festival comes at a time when Malaysia is seeing growing demand from Muslim travellers.
Malaysia welcomed 9.7 million Muslim visitors in 2025, the highest number recorded to date. This figure is projected to reach 15 million by 2030, highlighting the potential for the country’s tourism industry, local businesses and communities.
With Malaysia also building momentum around Visit Malaysia 2026 and looking ahead to the SEA Games 2027, MHLife 2026 is expected to provide another platform for showcasing the country’s Muslim-friendly tourism offerings to both local and international visitors.
Halal Lifestyle Goes Beyond Food
For many people, the word halal is closely associated with food. MHLife 2026 aims to show that the halal lifestyle extends much further, covering areas such as fashion, travel, heritage, wellness and everyday lifestyle experiences.
Mohammad Faisal Abu Suaib Khan, Director-General of Islamic Tourism Centre, said the festival is intended to bring these different elements together while giving visitors a broader look at Malaysia’s halal and Muslim-friendly offerings.
The festival will also highlight how Malaysia’s established halal ecosystem can complement its tourism, hospitality, culture and lifestyle industries, while creating more opportunities for local businesses to tap into the growing Muslim-friendly market.
Taste Malaysia, Wear Malaysia, Experience Malaysia
MHLife 2026 will be centred around the theme “Rasa, Gaya, Warisan”, inviting visitors to “Taste Malaysia, Wear Malaysia, Experience Malaysia.”
One of the major highlights will be 16 pavilions representing Malaysia’s 13 states and three federal territories, alongside home-grown brands and a variety of local offerings.
Visitors can expect a mix of:
- Food and beverage offerings
- Modest fashion
- Beauty and wellness
- Handicrafts
- Muslim-friendly tourism experiences
- Family activities
- Shopping
- Competitions
- Cultural showcases and performances
- Live entertainment
The festival will also feature the Harmony Night Concert, bringing together renowned local contemporary and traditional performers.
Further details on participating vendors, programmes, performances and activities will be announced closer to the festival.
New Collaboration to Strengthen Muslim-Friendly Hospitality
During the festival launch, ITC also announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH).
The collaboration will focus on strengthening the recognition and market value of Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR), while supporting industry training, capacity building, promotion and long-term development of the sector.
The partnership is also expected to encourage greater industry engagement and help strengthen Malaysia’s readiness to serve the needs of Muslim-friendly travellers.
Opportunities Continue After the Festival
MHLife 2026 is not only about what happens during the three-day event. ITC is also using the festival to create longer-term opportunities for participating businesses.
All participating vendors will automatically be included in ITC’s official Muslim-Friendly Tourism Directory, giving them continued online visibility within Malaysia’s Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem after the festival ends.
The directory will provide another way for consumers and travellers to discover Muslim-friendly products, services and experiences available across Malaysia.
Businesses Can Still Join MHLife 2026
Applications are currently open for businesses interested in becoming vendors at MHLife 2026.
Businesses from categories including food and beverage, modest fashion, beauty and wellness, handicrafts, Muslim-friendly tourism, lifestyle products and other relevant sectors can participate.
Interested vendors can register through www.mhlife.com.my.
Mark Your Calendar
Malaysia Halal Lifestyle Festival (MHLife) 2026
Date: 23–25 October 2026
Venue: Dataran Karnival, Stadium Shah Alam, Selangor
Admission: Free
With food, fashion, culture, tourism and local businesses coming together, MHLife 2026 is set to offer visitors a wider look at what Malaysia’s halal lifestyle ecosystem has to offer.
For the latest festival updates, programme announcements and participating vendors, visitors can check the official MHLife 2026 channels.
