2020 Cultural Events Update

According to the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority COVID-19 crisis business impact survey report conducted in April 2020, the global pandemic has had a devastating impact on Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry with more than 90% of businesses experiencing cancelled bookings.

Many of these cancelled bookings have been for the cultural festival tours taking place between June and November 2020. 

The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority works closely with cultural festival organizers to confirm dates for the industry, stakeholders and the general public every year. 

This year a majority of cultural festival organizers have made the difficult decision to cancel their 2020 events as a result of the COVID-19 crisis affecting inbound travel.

Cancelled cultural festivals confirmed for 2020 include:

• National Mask and Warwagira Festival, East New Britain 
• Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival, East Sepik 
• Hagen Show, Western Highlands
• Goroka Show, Eastern Highlands
• National Kenu and Kundu Festival, Milne Bay  

The confirmed cultural festivals that will take place in 2020 are:

• Enga Cultural Show, 7th-9th August 2020
• Huhu War Canoe Festival, 6th-7th November 2020 
• Karimui Show, 18th-20th November 2020

The following festivals are confirmed for next year:

• National Mask and Warwagira Festival, 14th-18th July 2021
• Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival 5th-7th August 2021  
• Enga Cultural Show, 13th-15th August 2021
• Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival, 23rd-25th September 2021
• National Kenu and Kundu Festival, 5th-6th November 2021  

For a list of 2020 events, please visit Tourism Industry Events.

For further information, email: info@papuanewguinea.travel