TAWAU: The district is set to host in August, the Borneo International Clown Convention 2026 (BICC 2026), the first-of-its-kind international gathering in Sabah that brings together creative performers, educators, healthcare practitioners, and community leaders from around the world.
The convention on Aug 3-5 at Dewan Calvary, Tawau, Sabah, will help position in town as an emerging destination for creative, cultural, and community-based international events.
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South East Asia Regional Director of World Clown Association, Donny Ngu said participants have already registered from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, and India, while the event will feature an international lineup of trainers and guests from the United States, Japan, Mexico, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
A highlight is the participation of the renowned Mexican team PayaCoCos, further strengthening the convention’s international profile and artistic excellence.
Donny said BICC 2026 is designed as a multidisciplinary platform that integrates creativity, education, and humanitarian impact.
The convention focusses on creative expression and performance arts; communication, confidence building, and emotional intelligence; cultural exchange and international collaboration; and community engagement and humanitarian outreach, including hospital and social care initiatives.
According to him, in today’s rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence and technological advancement, creativity is increasingly recognised as an essential human capability.
BICC 2026 highlights how creative arts, when combined with human connection, can enhance learning, personal development, and social impact — particularly for educators, youth, and the next generation.
The convention provides a platform for exploring how creativity can complement formal education, nurturing individuals who are not only knowledgeable, but also confident, expressive, empathetic, and resilient.
He explained that the convention also holds strong relevance for the healthcare and caregiving sectors.
Through the principles of caring clowning and creative engagement, BICC 2026 demonstrates how joy, empathy, and emotional support can contribute meaningfully to patient care — especially for children, long-term patients, and individuals undergoing critical treatments such as cancer care. It offers valuable perspectives on the role of psychosocial support and human connection in the healing process.
By integrating art, education, and humanitarian values, BICC 2026 goes beyond entertainment, positioning itself as a platform that promotes holistic development, compassion, and positive societal impact.
Donny added the event is expected to contribute to Tawau’s growing reputation as an emerging MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination, while generating positive spillover effects for the local tourism, hospitality, food, retail, and service sectors.
Members of public are welcomed to register via https://linktr.ee/borneoclownconvention. For more information or inquiry, please contact Mr. Donny at 011-1058-9679 or email: cdproductionsdnbhd@gmail.com.
