Desaru Coast becomes the Global Stage at Ombak Festival 2025

Ombak Festival concluded its second edition at Desaru Coast from 12 to 14 September with a spectacular weekend of global icons, ASEAN powerhouses of talent, culinary showcases and family-friendly fun activities. With legendary performances from Simply Red, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Joss Stone and Flight Facilities, alongside 29 of Southeast Asia’s brightest talents.

Ombak Festival brought together large crowds of music lovers, families, and art enthusiasts from across the region. Excited festival goers and families seized the chance to enjoy a fusion of cultural festivities, exceptional music, gastronomic curation and visual art showcases. Along with relaxing and comfortable stays at Desaru Coast’s resorts, including The Sirēya Desaru Coast, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, while fully immersing themselves in the vibrant festival atmosphere at tranquil shoreside venues. 

“Ombak Festival 2025 was designed as a bold celebration of ASEAN creativity, culture and community and our artistes and festival goers helped us deliver just that. The energy on stage and in the crowd was electric from Simply Red’s Asia exclusive 40th anniversary set to Joss Stone’s soulful preview of her new album and our regional stars such as Phum Viphurit, Joe Flizzow, SonaOne and Ismail Izzani made this truly an ASEAN-forward experience.” 

“Uniting culture and community, the festival celebrated music, food, arts and family-friendly experiences all in one. Ombak Festival 2025 was more than just a weekend celebration, it also reflected Desaru Coast’s commitment to supporting Johor’s growing role as a hub for cultural events in Southeast Asia, especially as Malaysia leads ASEAN in 2025 and gears up for Visit Johor and Visit Malaysia Year in 2026. We are grateful to visitors, partners and the Johor community for making another extraordinary weekend at Desaru Coast possible,” said Karina Ridzuan, Director of Ombak Festival 2025. 

The Ombak Main Stage lit up with Simply Red in their exclusive Asian performance, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic bringing the funk, Joss Stone serenading with timeless soul, and Flight Facilities making their long-awaited Malaysian debut. They were joined by Southeast Asia’s most exciting acts: Joe Flizzow, SonaOne, Ismail Izzani, Zamaera, Phum Viphurit, Diskoria, The Pinholes, Tanayu, Keyana, Kyoto Protocol, Vanthan and many more — delivering unforgettable nights of music under the stars.

Festival goers were also treated to the exquisite Sazón Tapas & Grill by Andrew Walsh, while Carbon KL’s Smoke & Fire elevated the art of grilling with cutting-edge techniques. The culinary offerings included a modest selection from Flavours of Johor, which featured local tastes.

Ombak Festival transformed Desaru Coast into a vibrant canvas of creativity. Festival goers joined lively drum rhythm sessions with The Coast Drum Circle, admired modern and contemporary Malaysian works showcased by Segaris Art Center, and even tried their hand at traditional moves in the Zapin workshop.  A variety of artisanal crafts were available at Pasar Seloka bazaar, alongside niche projects like the upcycling initiative by Adeline Loo and educational puppetry by SIAPA Theatre. Music lovers also enjoyed a vinyl pop-up at Kena Sound and casual mahjong sessions organized by All Tiled Up, adding local cultural charm in a relaxed setting.

Families enjoyed at the Ombak Kids zone, featuring crowd favourites and new highlights: Go Fly Kites, LEGOLAND Speed Building Challenge, the beloved 10-foot puppets Meera & Fiz, interactive Mereka Games and the whimsical Funfair of Forgotten Futures. For the first time, Ombak partnered with Kiddocare, ensuring parents had access to trusted childcare services throughout the festival. 

Beyond the weekend of music, food and arts, Ombak Festival 2025 proved itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading cultural celebrations, while showcasing Desaru Coast as a dynamic host for premier destination experiences. We look forward to welcoming festival goers back for the 2026 edition with even more unforgettable experiences.