Jalan Raja to close for almost a week ahead of Citrawarna 2026
If you’re planning to drive around Kuala Lumpur city centre next week, be prepared for major traffic disruptions. Jalan Raja, in front of Dataran Merdeka, will be fully closed from 12PM on 21 July until 5AM on 27 July 2026 to make way for the setup, operations and dismantling of Citrawarna 2026.
The week-long closure is expected to affect traffic around the historic city centre, especially during peak hours. In addition to the long closure of Jalan Raja, several major roads around Dataran Merdeka will also be temporarily closed for the Colours of Parade, the festival’s cultural parade.
The additional road closures are scheduled as follows:
Rehearsal: Friday, 24 July 2026, from 9:00PM to 2:00AM
Parade Day: Saturday, 25 July 2026, from 6:00PM to 11:00PM
During these periods, the parade route will be fully closed from:
- Bulatan Dato’ Onn to Jalan Parlimen
- Jalan Raja Laut
- Jalan Esfahan
- Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
- Jalan Tun Perak
- Jalan Kinabalu access road to Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
Motorists are advised to plan their journeys ahead of time and use alternative routes where possible. With multiple roads around Dataran Merdeka set to be closed, if you’re planning on attending Citrawarna 2026 you’re encouraged to use public transport instead of driving.
The festival will be held from 24 to 26 July 2026 at Dataran Merdeka as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, showcasing Malaysian arts, culture, heritage and gastronomy.
To encourage visitors to use e-hailing services, Grab will be offering RM3 off rides to the first 1,000 users each day throughout the festival from 24 to 26 July. A total of 3,000 vouchers, worth RM9,000, will be available over the three-day event. Grab says the promo code and redemption details will be announced closer to the event through the official Citrawarna channels.
If you’re planning to be in the city centre over the weekend, it’s worth checking the latest traffic updates before heading out, as congestion is expected around Dataran Merdeka throughout the festival period.
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