Kota Kinabalu: A total of 53 contestants will compete for the prestigious Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2026 title during the state-level finals scheduled to take place on May 30 and 31.
State Unduk Ngadau Committee Chairperson Dr Mary Gambidau
(pic) said extensive preparations have been made to ensure the highlight event of the state-level Kaamatan Festival runs smoothly.
She said the iconic pageant, now entering its 66th edition, continues to serve as an important platform for celebrating the beauty, intelligence and identity of Sabah women while preserving the rich cultural heritage of the local community.
“Overall, the Unduk Ngadau 2026 committee is now at the highest level of preparedness to ensure this year’s event is organised successfully and in a grand manner,” she told reporters after an interview session at the Sabah FM studio at the Integrated Complex of the Ministry of Communications here on Wednesday.
Commenting on improvements introduced this year, Dr Mary revealed that the competition will feature a more comprehensive preliminary assessment process ahead of the grand finale.
She said the move is aimed at giving judges more time to better understand each finalist’s personality, appearance and level of preparation before the final judging session on May 31.
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“This preliminary assessment is part of our continuous effort to improve the quality of the competition, which has become a symbol of pride and tradition for the Kadazan Dusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) community in Sabah,” she added.
She also advised all finalists to make full use of the opportunity by giving their best performance in pursuit of their dreams.
At the same time, Dr Mary called on the public to continue supporting the contestants, especially on social media, by sharing encouraging and positive comments to help motivate the finalists.
“Alongside strong support, I hope the public will continue providing constructive comments that can inspire and motivate our Unduk Ngadau contestants,” she said.
