Inside INVEST Fair 2026: More Than 15,000 Visitors Explore AI, Financial Literacy and Investment Opportunities
Malaysia’s largest retail investment event, INVEST Fair 2026, concluded on 19 July after welcoming a record 15,000 visitors over two days at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur, highlighting Malaysians’ growing interest in investing, financial literacy and emerging financial technologies.
This year’s edition marked the largest in the event’s history, featuring more than 100 speakers, 40 exhibitors and over 70 hours of talks, panel discussions and interactive sessions covering capital markets, stock investing, wealth management, personal finance and financial technology.
Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia, officiates the opening of INVEST Fair 2026 alongside Stephanie Tan, Director of Group Commercial & Market Coverage, Bursa Malaysia, and representatives from AlphaInvest Holdings
The event brought together retail investors, listed companies, financial institutions, fund managers and market professionals on a single platform to exchange ideas, explore investment opportunities and discuss trends shaping the future of investing.
The event was officially opened by Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia, who highlighted the importance of equipping Malaysians with the confidence, knowledge and tools needed to participate responsibly in the capital market as retail investing continues to gain momentum.
Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia
In his opening address, he said: “While saving helps build financial discipline and security, investing allows Malaysians to put their money to work, grow their wealth over time and work towards their long-term financial goals. It is encouraging to see more Malaysians taking that step, with more than 325,000 new retail CDS accounts opened as at mid-June this year.
“As participation grows, investors need access to trusted information, practical knowledge and the confidence to navigate the market. Through investor education initiatives and a wider range of investment opportunities, Bursa Malaysia is committed to helping Malaysians invest with confidence while participating in the nation’s economic growth,” he added.
AI moves from concept to practical investing
Themed “Money. Finance. Technology.”, this year’s programme reflected how artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from a technological buzzword to a practical tool for everyday investors.
Across the two-day event, speakers explored how AI is transforming investment research, portfolio analysis, stock screening and decision-making, while discussions also examined broader developments in digital finance, automation and financial technology. Rather than focusing solely on emerging technologies, many sessions emphasised how investors can responsibly incorporate these tools into their own investment processes while understanding both their capabilities and limitations.
Mr Christopher Lee, Chief Executive Officer and Director of AlphaInvest Holdings Pte. Ltd.
Mr Christopher Lee (李锡良), Chief Executive Officer and Director of AlphaInvest Holdings Pte. Ltd., the holding company of ShareInvestor Malaysia, said technological advancement has significantly lowered barriers to investing, making access to sophisticated tools easier than ever before. However, he noted that the abundance of information also makes financial literacy and sound judgement increasingly important.
“Access to sophisticated tools is no longer the exclusive domain of institutional investors. However, with more data comes more noise, and successful investors will be those who know how to interpret information and make informed decisions. That is what INVEST Fair is designed to support. By bringing together investors and industry professionals on a single platform, the event enables visitors to learn from experts, engage directly with market participants and gain practical insights that help them make more informed financial and investment decisions.”
Continuing to strengthen Malaysia’s investment community
Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia, accompanied by Stephanie Tan, Director of Group Commercial & Market Coverage, Bursa Malaysia, with representatives from AlphaInvest Holdings
ShareInvestor Malaysia, together with its holding company AlphaInvest Holdings, remains committed to further strengthening INVEST Fair as Malaysia’s leading retail investment platform. Made possible through the continued support of our partners, exhibitors, speakers and visitors, the event will continue to grow in scale, quality and impact, providing Malaysians with trusted investor education, financial literacy initiatives, timely market insights and meaningful engagement with the wider capital market ecosystem.
As investing evolves alongside advancements in artificial intelligence, digital finance and shifting market dynamics, INVEST Fair will remain at the forefront of industry developments. By bringing together leading market experts, financial institutions, listed companies and technology innovators, ShareInvestor Malaysia will deliver forward-looking investment insights while empowering more Malaysians to invest with greater knowledge, confidence and a long-term perspective. Through these efforts, the company remains dedicated to raising the standard of investor education and fostering a stronger, more informed investment community in Malaysia for years to come.
Practical investing sessions remain crowd favourites
Visitors engage with the speaker, asking questions and sharing insights during an interactive session
Many sessions attracted full audiences throughout the two-day event, with topics ranging from Malaysian and global equities to wealth creation, retirement planning, property investment and trading strategies. Talks were conducted in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, making investment knowledge accessible to Malaysians from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of investing experience.
Fireside chat “Mapping Malaysia’s Investment Future”, featuring Ms Stephanie Tan
One of the programme’s highlights was the fireside chat “Mapping Malaysia’s Investment Future”, featuring Ms Stephanie Tan, Director, Group Commercial & Market Coverage of Bursa Malaysia, moderated by Dr Wong Chin Yoong, Professor in Economics at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. The discussion explored Bursa Malaysia’s role in advancing the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030, examining initiatives to strengthen Malaysia’s capital market ecosystem, expand investment opportunities and support long-term economic growth.
On the second day of the event, discussions turned to the challenges of navigating an increasingly uncertain global economic environment. Sessions included “A Deadly Love Triangle: Debt, Rates and Currency Shifts” by Mr Kenny Yee, Head of Research at Rakuten Trade, and “Don’t Get Played: An Investor’s Guide to Spotting Scams Before They Spot You” by Mr Nicholas Soon, Managing Director and CEO of UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors.
These talks and panel sessions attracted large audiences by providing practical guidance on understanding macroeconomic risks, protecting investment portfolios and recognising increasingly sophisticated financial scams targeting retail investors.
Speaker highlights from the two-day fair
Throughout the event, visitors gained insights into several key areas, including:
How artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming investing and wealth management.
The impact of global economic developments, interest rates, inflation and currency movements on investment decisions.
Investment products and financial solutions available to retail investors across different stages of their investment journey.
Building long-term wealth through diversification, disciplined investing and retirement planning, including discussions on EPF adequacy and financial preparedness.
Identifying common investment scams, conducting proper due diligence and making informed financial decisions.
Engaging directly with financial institutions, listed companies and market professionals to better understand products, services and investment opportunities.
Beyond investing: Finance meets lifestyle and careers
Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia, visited the booths and engaged with the personnel
Beyond the conference sessions, this year’s edition expanded the visitor experience through a range of new attractions designed to make financial learning more engaging and accessible.
Duit Fest made its debut with a focus on practical money management, budgeting and financial wellness, reinforcing the importance of sound financial habits alongside investing. The newly introduced Career Partner Area connected visitors with career opportunities across the financial services industry, offering students and professionals an opportunity to explore pathways within Malaysia’s growing financial sector.
Champion, First Runner-up, and Second Runner-up of the Pickleball Bull League.
Interactive experiences such as the Golden Ball Pit Challenge, Kick & Win Challenge and Pickleball Bull League added a lifestyle element to the fair, attracting strong participation throughout the weekend. Visitors also took part in competitions and lucky draws, with cash prizes and rewards worth up to RM100,000 awarded across the two-day event.
Reflecting the evolution of Malaysia’s retail investing landscape
INVEST Fair 2026 welcomed record attendance, reflecting growing interest in investing, financial literacy and financial technology among Malaysians.
Rather than seeking only stock tips or short-term trading opportunities, today’s retail investors increasingly looking for practical knowledge, trusted insights and direct access to industry professionals who can help them better understand the investment landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, digital finance and rapidly changing global markets.
Events such as INVEST Fair have therefore evolved beyond traditional investment exhibitions. They have become platforms where retail investors can compare financial products, engage directly with financial institutions, listed companies and industry experts, explore emerging technologies and gain practical knowledge that supports more informed long-term financial decision-making.
With its largest edition to date, INVEST Fair 2026 reinforced its position as Malaysia’s premier retail investment event while reflecting AlphaInvest’s continued commitment to fostering greater financial literacy, connecting investors with the wider capital market ecosystem and empowering Malaysians to invest with greater confidence in an increasingly technology-driven financial world.
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