November comes alive with creativity, sound, and celebration. From the rhythmic pulse of Hennessy Artistry 2025 to the soulful strings of José María Gallardo del Rey at MPO, Kuala Lumpur is humming with energy and artistic spirit. Add to that the thought-provoking ideas of TEDxKL: Confluence at REXKL, the laughter of Jimmy O. Yang’s Big & Tall Tour, and the sensory pleasures of the KL Wine Fest, and it’s clear: this is a season that delights both mind and soul.
Beyond the stages and galleries, innovation finds form in The City of Willows, a playable art installation reimagining history through digital storytelling. Together, these events weave a vibrant tapestry of culture — where conversation, creativity, and connection collide.
TEDxKL 2025: Confluence – The Art of Coming Together
- Date: 15 November 2025, 12pm onwards
- Venue: REXKL
- More details here
On 15 November 2025, TEDxKL 2025: Confluence unfolds at REXKL, where ideas, people and possibilities merge. Expect voices that span disciplines and cultures — each one contributing to a powerful current of change. Among the standout speakers is Dr Apurva Sanghi, Lead Economist at World Bank Malaysia, bringing global insight on growth and sustainability. A former macro-economist in Moscow and Nairobi, Sanghi will explore how ideas converge to shape the future.
There’s also Shamaine Othman, acclaimed comedian and writer, who uses humour and storytelling to break down boundaries and connect diverse communities. And not forgetting BaM (Mariani ‘Bam’ Ramli), wildlife conservationist and founder of the Gibbon Foundation, channels her passion into empowering Malaysian communities to protect endangered species and habitats. Each speaker reflects the theme of “confluence” in their own way — where distinct streams of thought meet and spark something new.
Hennessy Artistry 2025
- Date: 15 November 2025, 4pm onwards
- Venue: The Arch Galeries, Kuala Lumpur
- More details here
Hennessy Artistry returns this year with its biggest edition yet — a bold, high-energy fusion of music, art, and culture under the theme Made for Music. This year’s festival unites global icons, Southeast Asia’s rising stars, and immersive creative experiences in one spectacular night dedicated to rhythm, innovation, and style.
Headlining the stage are Showtek, the world-renowned Dutch DJ-producer duo behind dance anthems like Bad (with David Guetta) and Booyah. They’re joined by Tyson Yoshi, Hong Kong’s breakout R&B star celebrated for hits like Christy and 你不會一輩子的愛上我. Adding local firepower to the lineup are Southeast Asia’s finest — Dato’ Maw, Yaung, BLINK, and TChuno — each bringing their unique sound and energy to the global stage. Together, they embody Hennessy’s vision of music without borders and creativity without limits.
But Hennessy Artistry 2025 is more than just a concert. It’s a multi-sensory playground where music meets design and innovation. Guests can explore larger-than-life visual installations, interactive digital art zones, exclusive HdPc streetwear collaborations, and signature Hennessy-crafted cocktails. Every beat, every sip, and every moment promises to celebrate what happens when creativity flows freely — a night truly Made for Music.
Guitar Serenade by José María Gallardo del Rey
- Date: 22 November 2025, 8pm
- Venue: Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS
- Purchase tickets here.
Lose yourself in the warmth of Spain as the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) conjures the soul of the Iberian sun. Led by John Axelrod, the evening transports listeners through the country’s most evocative soundscapes — from the bustling streets of Madrid to the tranquil gardens of Aranjuez.
At the heart of this journey is Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by the celebrated Spanish guitarist José María Gallardo del Rey. His strings sing with passion and nostalgia, echoing through melodies that shimmer like light over the River Tagus. Prepare to immerse in an odyssey through sound — a luminous evening where music, memory, and imagination intertwine beneath the Spanish sky.
Jimmy O. Yang in KL
- Date: 23 November 2025, 5pm & 8pm
- Venue: Idea Live Arena
- Purchase tickets here
Jimmy O. Yang is bringing his Big & Tall world tour to Idea Live Arena in Kuala Lumpur. This will be his first live stand-up tour in Malaysia, presented by Bohm Presents and LOL Asia. Best known for roles in Silicon Valley, Crazy Rich Asians and Space Force, Jimmy O. Yang blends witty cultural insights, immigrant-family stories and fearless stage presence into his comedy. His Big & Tall tour has already sold out in venues like Carnegie Hall. Looking at the raved reviews, the 38-year-old is expected to charm Malaysians when he visits.
KL Wine Fest
- Date: 29 November, 2pm
- Venue: The Godown Arts Centre, KL
- Purchase tickets here
Kuala Lumpur will host its first-ever KL Wine Fest at The Godown Arts Centre. The venue, tucked in Bukit Nanas, brings artful energy to what promises to be a day-long celebration of wine and discovery. Meet 17 winemakers from Europe, Australia and China pouring over 70 unique wines—from Germany’s DB Schmitt to Spain’s Suertes del Marqués. Guests can wander between tasting booths, learn directly from the makers, and bring home favourite bottles via a retail corner.
Beyond the wine, feast your senses with food pop-ups from favourites like Universal Bakehouse, Atelier Binchotan and One Half Roastery. Coffees, snacks and conversation will flow. It’s not just about sipping—it’s about a spirited, communal celebration of flavour. This isn’t your typical tasting event. It blends global craftsmanship with local culture in a hidden arts gem.
Bonus:
The City of Willows by Chong Yan Chuah and Simon Soon
- Date: : 11 October – 7 December, every Friday – Sunday, 12pm – 7pm
- Venue: Cultprint, George Town, Penang
- Free entry
- More info here
Step into The City of Willows, a captivating playable art installation by artist Chong Yan Chuah and scholar Simon Soon. This project blurs the boundaries between history, myth, and digital experience. Visitors can explore the hidden worlds of 19th-century Chinese secret societies across the Malay Archipelago — reimagined through the lens of interactive storytelling and game design.
Players embark on a mythic quest in search of the fabled “City of Willows,” a symbolic sanctuary where loyalty, secrecy, and faith intertwine. What unfolds is part game, part historical dreamscape. It’s a meditation on migration, kinship, and resistance, rendered in luminous digital form.
First shown at the George Town Festival 2025, this expanded edition introduces the Geneacosm Index (2023, 2025). The series features 113 haunting machine-vision portraits that imagine the speculative futures of the City’s inhabitants. Together, these works invite audiences to reflect on how memory, myth, and technology can converge to reanimate forgotten histories
