Cambodia to Hold Workshop on Khmer Sbai Use in Traditional Customs and Weddings
Cambodia to Hold Workshop on Khmer Sbai Use in Traditional Customs and Weddings
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 10, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will organise an orientation workshop on the use of the Khmer sbai in traditional customs and Khmer wedding ceremonies as part of efforts to strengthen public understanding and promote the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.
The workshop, titled “Khmer Sbai and Its Use in Traditional Customs, Traditions and Khmer Weddings,” is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2026, at the Angkor Wat Hall of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.
According to a ministry notice, the workshop is open to members of the public interested in learning more about the subject, as well as people working in related fields, including beauty and bridal services, fashion and clothing design, content creation and other related professions.
Interested participants are required to register by scanning the QR code provided by the ministry. Registration will close on Sept. 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
The ministry said the orientation workshop is intended to enhance understanding of the Khmer sbai and the proper ways it is used in Cambodia’s traditional customs and ceremonies.
It also aims to promote greater appreciation of Khmer traditions described by the ministry as part of the country’s rich, dignified and long-standing cultural heritage, particularly their use in Khmer wedding ceremonies as an expression of national identity.
The ministry called for collective efforts to promote, safeguard, preserve and widely disseminate knowledge about the proper use of the Khmer sbai, particularly among people working in the fashion, beauty, wedding and content-creation sectors.
The workshop comes as Cambodia continues efforts to document and safeguard elements of its intangible cultural heritage. The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts identifies traditional craftsmanship, social practices, rituals and festive events as important areas of Cambodia’s intangible cultural heritage.
The cultural significance of the sbai is also reflected in documentation of the Traditional Khmer Wedding, where the garment is used in wedding rituals. UNESCO documentation, for example, describes the groom holding the bride’s sbai as part of the traditional wedding procession.
The ministry’s latest workshop therefore seeks to provide a platform for greater understanding of the cultural context and appropriate use of the sbai, while encouraging those involved in modern fashion, weddings and media content to help preserve and promote Khmer cultural traditions.
