George Town, Penang: Penang Island Jazz Festival

​Every year, catchy and alluring sounds of jazz music reverberate from the second smallest island of Malaysia. The source of the romantic atmosphere is Penang, an island situated off the northwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula. The Penang Island Jazz Festival is held on Batu Ferringhi, a beach on the island, every December.

Since its launch in 2004, a large number of domestic and foreign jazz musicians have been performing at the event. The festival presents a wide variety of things to see and enjoy including the Fringe Festival, exhibitions and other side events that fascinate the visitors.

The festival, which is now in its 14^th year, will be held from November 30 until December 3. Penang, called the “Pearl of the East” and the “Emerald of the Indian Ocean,” hosts festivals representing various cultural spheres 365 days of the year as it is a place where Eastern and Western cultures have come together.

In addition to the Jazz Festival, you can encounter the unique culture and arts of Penang through the George Town Festival, which is regarded as the most representative cultural and arts festival of the island, as well as the In-between Arts Festival.​