The Iumi Wan Festival is due to be staged on the same dates as the Pacific Games in Honiara ©Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Plans have been revealed to stage an Iumi Wan Festival celebrating local talent during this year's Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara.

All events at the Youth Hub, Multipurpose Hall, the National Museum and the National Art Gallery from November 19 to December 2, the same dates as the Pacific Games, are set to be free of charge as part of the cultural programme.

The Solomon Islands 2023 Organising Committee and Ministry of Culture and Tourism are jointly organising the festival.

Planned activities include local musical talents, local and regional artists and the Iumi Wan Dress Show on November 30.

Local designers are set to compete in a preliminary round as part of the Dress Show to create a national dress embodying the Solomon Islands.

The Iumi Wan Dress Show is among the highlights of the Festival ©Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism
The Iumi Wan Dress Show is among the highlights of the Festival ©Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Pacific Games competition is set to be shown for free at the Multipurpose Youth Hub.

The Solomon Islands is due to stage the Pacific Games for the first time, with a four-month delay blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Athletes from 24 countries are expected to attend Solomon Islands 2023, with 24 sports featuring on the programme.

China has heavily backed the Pacific Games as part of its increasing influence in the region, but Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Japan have also provided financial aid.