SUNWAY LAGOON WELCOMES 2026 WITH MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION, FIREWORKS AND WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS

By Ummu Khalidah Hamzah

PETALING JAYA, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- The New Year 2026 celebration at Sunway Lagoon came alive as thousands of visitors thronged the theme park from as early as 6 pm yesterday to welcome the year with family and friends.

This time around, Sunway Lagoon management also opened the entire theme park until midnight, offering extended access to attractions in a move to draw larger crowds and heighten the celebratory atmosphere.

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One visitor from Surabaya, Indonesia, Rini Absuri, 40, said she visited Malaysia with her husband and two children for a holiday and chose Sunway Lagoon due to its popularity among tourists.

“When I was looking for a family-friendly holiday destination in Malaysia, many online reviews recommended Sunway Lagoon because of the wide range of activities for children,” she told Bernama.

Rini said she was delighted to spend the final moments of 2025 with her family in a lively setting and looked forward to exploring more attractions across Malaysia.

Local visitor Salina Safii, 38, described celebrating the New Year at Sunway Lagoon as a good choice, as she was able to enjoy live music performances, a fireworks display and various theme park rides.

“At first, I just wanted to watch the fireworks, but once we arrived, I felt like trying everything,” she said.

While awaiting the midnight fireworks, visitors were entertained with a range of activities, including meet-and-greet and photo sessions with Sunway Lagoon mascots such as Captain Quack, Lady Quack, GOGO and BEBE.

Aside from that, visitors also have the opportunity to participate in feeding the wild animals, such as otters, sun bears, and tigers, at Sunway Lagoon Wildlife Park.

Wildlife Educator Timothy James Mah said the theme park is among the first to introduce tiger-feeding activities.

He explained that the activity not only allows visitors to interact with the animals up close but also provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their natural habitat.

“While feeding the animals, we also share facts and raise awareness, such as the fact that all six tiger species, including the Bengal tiger, are endangered. Although they make up 90 per cent of the global tiger population, they remain at risk due to hunting and poaching,” he said.

In addition, the park plans to introduce new habitats in the future to provide visitors with an even more engaging and educational experience.

-- BERNAMA