PNG’s oldest Cultural Show a legacy still staged today

Thursday, 21 August 2025, 1:09 pm

Western Highlands traditional male 'Bilas' at the 65th Mt Hagen Cultural and Agricultural Show. (NBC News)

The Mt Hagen Cultural Show, Papua New Guinea’s oldest cultural festival, celebrated its 65th year this month with a blend of tradition and modernity.

First staged in 1961 to foster peace and understanding among tribes in Western Highlands Province (including Jiwaka until it gained provincial status in 2010), the Show has grown into a premier cultural event and major tourist attraction.

Originally created to promote reconciliation and cultural exchange, the event now draws both domestic and international visitors, showcasing over 50 cultural groups performing traditional dances (singsing), chants, and rituals. Performances feature elaborate costumes, face painting, and the rhythmic beats of the kundu drum.

In recent years, the Show has expanded to include modern entertainment, local musicians, and arts and crafts.

This year’s event added an agricultural component, featuring booths and stalls displaying products and services, including world-renowned brands such as Togoba Coffee.

Pepsi secured naming rights as platinum sponsor, while the Western Highlands Provincial Government hosted and sponsored the event.

The three-day Cultural and Agricultural Show, staged from August 15th to 17th at Queen’s Park in Mt Hagen, attracted leaders including Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Belden Namah, Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa, Mul Baiyer MP Jacob Kop Maki, PEC members, business houses, and United States Ambassador to PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Ann Marie Yastishock — the first US Ambassador to attend the Show.

From R-L: Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa, Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture Belden Namah, US Ambassador to PNG, SI and Vanuatu Ann Marie Yastishock and Mul Baiyer MP Jacob Kop Maki attending the 65th Mt Hagen Cutural and Agricultural Show in Mt Hagen. (NBC News)

Minister Namah, who officiated at the opening and closing, urged Papua New Guineans to preserve and pass on their culture, traditions, and arts.

He described the Hagen Show as more than a cultural festivity, calling it “a legacy passed on from the past to the present.”

“The Hagen Show was created 65 years ago to unite tribes in Western Highlands Province, but today it stands as one of PNG’s most celebrated cultural events, showcasing the pride and diversity of our people,” Namah said.

Namah commended Governor Rapa for prioritising law and order, saying this commitment has made Western Highlands safe for visitors and attractive for tourists. He thanked the provincial government for sponsoring the Show, noting it also serves as an educational platform for younger generations to learn and safeguard their heritage.

This year’s event drew nearly 70 international visitors along with thousands of locals, many of whom described the Show as an unforgettable experience.

Namah also announced K500,000 from his ministry to support cultural activities across Western Highlands’ four districts, including the establishment of cultural centres. He pledged an additional K50,000 for the Show and contributed K20,000 personally.

The 65th Mt Hagen Cultural and Agricultural Show closed with Minister Namah declaring it a resounding success and promising an even bigger celebration in 2026.