The Exchange TRX Ushers in the Lunar New Year with ‘Gallop Into Grandeur’

The Exchange TRX in Kuala Lumpur has unveiled its Lunar New Year campaign, Gallop Into Grandeur, transforming the premier lifestyle destination into a vibrant celebration of heritage, artistry, and prosperity for the Year of the Horse. Running from 15 January to 22 February 2026, the initiative blends traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary design, offering immersive installations, live performances, interactive workshops, and exclusive retail promotions. This festive program positions The Exchange TRX as a central hub for families, friends, and communities to usher in renewal and good fortune.

Central to the campaign is a striking central installation at Central Exchange and surrounding key spaces, reimagined through a modern lens on the Year of the Horse. Drawing from the poetic elegance of 山水畫 (shān shuǐ huà), traditional Chinese landscape paintings, the display incorporates sculptural forms, intricate artistic detailing, and multi-layered immersive elements. These motifs capture the horse’s symbolic attributes of strength, grace, and prosperity in Chinese culture, creating a visually captivating environment designed for exploration across various viewing levels.

“This campaign reflects our intention to honour Lunar New Year traditions through a modern, artistic lens. Gallop Into Grandeur blends heritage and contemporary design to create an experience that feels meaningful, immersive, and celebratory, one that welcomes guests to gather, reconnect, and usher in the new year together.”

Trevor Hill, General Manager at The Exchange TRX

The installation emphasises shareable, photogenic moments that root cultural storytelling in an accessible, contemporary form. Guests are invited to wander through this festive landscape, where every angle reveals new layers of artistry—blending natural motifs like flowing rivers and majestic peaks with dynamic horse silhouettes, evoking a sense of movement and auspicious energy. This thoughtful design not only honours Lunar New Year traditions but also aligns with The Exchange TRX’s role as a forward-thinking urban oasis at the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Complementing the visual spectacle, Gallop Into Grandeur features a dynamic lineup of cultural showcases, live performances, pop-up activations, and interactive workshops that foster togetherness. Traditional lion dances bring rhythmic energy and symbolic protection against evil spirits, while drum performances deliver powerful beats resonant with festive vitality. Fan dances add graceful fluidity, paying homage to the rich heritage of Chinese performing arts and infusing the space with celebratory rhythm.

These elements evolve The Exchange TRX into a lively festive hub, encouraging communal participation. Workshops might include hands-on crafts like calligraphy or lantern-making, allowing visitors to engage directly with Lunar New Year customs. The program underscores the destination’s commitment to blending age-old traditions with modern communal experiences, creating memorable moments for all ages amid the bustling energy of the city.

Luxury and beauty brands within The Exchange TRX enhance the celebrations with tailored Lunar New Year offerings, providing guests with indulgent treats and savings:

• Helena Rubinstein: Debuts a breakthrough addition to its acclaimed skincare portfolio, available exclusively for the festive season.
• Molton Brown: Offers complimentary in-store hand and arm massages (limited daily slots) alongside a take-home sample.
• Shiseido: Delivers 49% savings on the Ultimune Power Infusing Serum.
• Qeilin: Provides an exclusive one-to-one jewellery styling session; purchases above RM15,000 include a Limited Edition Wulu Charm, leather tag, and strap.

These promotions invite shoppers to discover premium products infused with festive spirit, from revitalising skincare rituals to symbolic jewellery pieces that embody prosperity and elegance. The collaborations highlight The Exchange TRX’s curation of high-end retail that resonates with the season’s themes of renewal and luxury.

In tandem with the campaign, a tiered shopping redemption program rewards spending with auspicious keepsakes, sweetened for UOB Credit or Debit Card users:

Spending Tier	Minimum Spend (Standard / UOB Card)	Redemption Items
Exclusive Angpow Set	RM388 / RM288 (single receipt)	Exclusive Angpow Set
Auspicious Fortune Canister & Angpow Set	RM3,288 / RM2,888 (two receipts)	Auspicious Fortune Canister + Angpow Set
Bountiful Fortune Set	RM10,888 / RM10,288 (three receipts)	Pair of Fortune Canisters + GODIVA Celestial Prosperity Collection chocolates + Festive candle + Three Exclusive Angpow Sets

This structured program incentivises festive shopping while delivering tangible symbols of fortune—angpows for blessings, canisters for wealth storage, and Godiva chocolates for shared indulgence. UOB cardholders benefit from reduced thresholds, making prosperity more attainable and encouraging broader participation across visits.

Gallop Into Grandeur masterfully unites immersive décor, cultural expressions, rewarding shopping, and moments of shared joy, inviting guests to embrace the Lunar New Year where heritage meets modern living. From the intricate 山水畫-inspired installations that evoke timeless Chinese artistry to the pulse of lion dances and the allure of exclusive brand drops, the campaign creates a holistic festive journey. As Kuala Lumpur’s dynamic epicenter, The Exchange TRX ensures the Year of the Horse gallops forward with grace, prosperity, and communal spirit—perfect for locals and visitors seeking authentic yet elevated celebrations through 22 February 2026.

For more information, head over to: https://www.theexchange.my/

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Carousel & Co. Brings Giant Carnival Games and a Rooftop Bar to the Heart of KLCC

There is a growing appetite in Kuala Lumpur for nights out that offer something to do beyond ordering another round. Carousel & Co., which has now officially opened at Avenue K in the KLCC area following a soft launch in December 2025, is built squarely around that appetite — a carnival-inspired rooftop social entertainment and dining venue where the main draw is not the menu, but the games.

The concept comes from HB Leisure (HBL), a UK-based group established in 1927 that operates skill games and family attractions across more than 150 destinations in 28 countries, entertaining upwards of 150 million guests annually. HBL’s track record is largely in theme park and resort partnerships — its first skill games operations in Asia began at LEGOLAND® Malaysia — but Carousel & Co. represents something different: the company’s first standalone social entertainment concept, and its first of this kind in Asia. HBL has committed MYR 25 million to the Kuala Lumpur venue, signalling that this is not a pilot project but a regional launchpad, with franchise and expansion opportunities already in the frame.

“We wanted to build something that gives people a proper reason to stay out a little longer. Carousel & Co. is about grown-up fun, big games, bold drinks and the kind of competition that makes people stay for just one more round.”

Greg Pearn, Head of New Concepts at HB Leisure

At the centre of the Carousel & Co. experience are nine technology-enabled, larger-than-life skill games — carnival classics scaled up and updated for a group social setting. The line-up includes Pearl, Corn Cascade, Roll Fast, High Flyers, Snack Attack, Hoop Hustle, Chips Ahoy, Feeding Frenzy, and Hoofers. The names are self-explanatory enough to be approachable, and the format — quick rounds, easy to learn, designed to generate the kind of competitive banter that keeps groups together — is well-suited to the corporate team outing, birthday group, or first-date crowd that the venue is pitching to.

Tickets start from MYR 60 per adult, with entry recommended for those aged 18 and above. The 18,000 square foot space is arranged across multiple zones, allowing groups to move between games, seating, and dining areas without the experience feeling segmented or rushed.

Carousel & Co. sits on the rooftop of Avenue K, directly above the KLCC LRT station — a location that makes it unusually accessible by public transport for a rooftop venue in the city centre. The proximity to Petronas Twin Towers, major hotels, and the surrounding shopping belt positions it well for both the tourist crowd and the after-work office market that the venue is actively courting.

The interior design leans into the carnival inspiration without becoming kitsch — plush corners for smaller gatherings and private dinners, open areas for larger groups, and a rooftop deck for city views. The food and drinks offering follows the “Play, Drink, Eat” sequencing the brand uses to describe itself: handcrafted cocktails, signature platters, and casual bites designed to be shared between rounds rather than to anchor the evening.

The official opening was attended by Cik Nurhuda Dini Mohd Nasir, Assistant Director of Tourism Malaysia’s Central Regional Office, whose presence reflects the venue’s alignment with Visit Malaysia 2026 priorities.

“City-centre experiences play an important role in how visitors plan their stay in Kuala Lumpur. Attractions such as Carousel & Co. add depth to the KLCC area by encouraging visitors to spend more time in the city centre, extend their evening activities, and consider an additional night in Kuala Lumpur. This supports Visit Malaysia 2026 by strengthening the capital’s entertainment offering and enhancing the overall visitor experience.”

Cik Nurhuda Dini Mohd Nasir, Assistant Director of Tourism Malaysia’s Central Regional Office

The competitive socialising format — sometimes called ‘eatertainment’ in the industry — has performed well in markets like the UK and US, where venues built around darts, mini golf, shuffleboard, and similar activities have carved out a consistent following among urban professionals. Carousel & Co. brings that model to Kuala Lumpur with a carnival twist, and at a price point and location that makes it accessible rather than exclusive.

Carousel & Co. is located at Level 6, Avenue K, 156 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, directly accessible from the KLCC LRT station. Further information and bookings at http://www.carouselandco.com

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Photos courtesy of respective brands.

Cover photo: The Exchange TRX