Sunset Serenade 2025

A sunset for music, memory and care

You have seen many sunsets in Kota Kinabalu. This one comes with strings, voices, and a quiet reason to sit together.

On Saturday, 22 November 2025, Anjung Selera in Tanjung Lipat will be transformed into an open-air theatre for Sunset Serenade, a music and theatre festival celebrating the lives and legacies of those living with life-limiting illnesses. Rather than speeches and slideshows, the evening will speak through music and performances, and the simple act of coming together by the sea.

The event is co-organised by the Society of Palliative Care Advocacy, Training and Education (SPATE), the Palliative Care Association Kota Kinabalu (PCAKK), Stage Production and the Academy of Art and Creative Technology at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Together, they work to raise the profile of palliative care and make it more accessible. Sunset Serenade is one way of bringing these conversations out of hospital corridors and into a public space where all are welcome.

A talented cast of actors and musicians will bring compassion, connection and humanity to the stage.
Inspired by Dr Ira Byock's reminder that "the things that matter most" deserve to be spoken about, their performances will honour these values. This is a rare opportunity to experience theatre and music being used so directly for care, reflection and quiet healing in a public space.

From 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, you can enjoy a variety of theatrical performances and live music while watching the sky change colour over Tanjung Lipat. Some performances will be gentle, some uplifting and some quietly powerful. They are all there to honour people living with serious illness and their families, carers, and health workers.

Whether you care about community, how we treat each other during life's most fragile moments, or simply want to experience the transformative power of art, Sunset Serenade 2025 is the place to be. Come on your own, with family or with friends. The rest, we'll share together.

Admission is free.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is specialised support for people living with a serious or life-limiting illness. It does not mean giving up treatment; it means focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for the patient and their family.

Palliative care teams help to manage pain and other symptoms. They also listen, answer difficult questions, provide emotional and spiritual support, and prioritise what matters most to the individual.

This care can be provided at home, in hospital or in a hospice. At its heart, palliative care is about helping people live as fully and comfortably as possible for as long as possible.