JAKARTA, Feb. 13 — Indonesia is preparing to host its first-ever national Chinese New Year celebration, a move officials say will strengthen ties with China and foster a deeper appreciation of cultural exchange.
A National Celebration Aimed at Bridging Cultures
The inaugural festival, slated for 2026, seeks to promote understanding and collaboration between Indonesia and China through a vibrant display of cultural traditions.
- The national Chinese New Year Festival will run from Feb. 17 to March 3, 2026, at Lapangan Banteng in Jakarta.
- Parallel celebrations are planned in eleven other Indonesian cities, including Singkawang, Palembang, and Surabaya.
- The festival aims to boost Indonesia’s creative economy by providing a platform for local entrepreneurs.
- Deputy Minister Irene Umar highlighted the festival’s significance, especially as it coincides with Ramadan.
What impact will a nationally recognized Chinese New Year have on Indonesia-China relations? According to Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar, a deep understanding of cultures at the national level will promote diplomatic exchanges between the two nations, particularly as business, academic, and community ties expand.
The Ministry of Creative Economy announced the festival will transform Lapangan Banteng in Jakarta into a hub of cultural activity from Feb. 17 to March 3, 2026. The event will feature traditional lantern festivals, bustling culinary and creative markets, an open museum dedicated to Chinese cultural acculturation, and the vibrant Nusantara Chinese New Year Parade, alongside a range of inclusive public events. Similar celebrations will simultaneously unfold in cities across the archipelago, including Singkawang, Palembang, Solo, Semarang, Manado, Makassar, Surabaya, Medan, Bogor, Batam, and Pontianak.
Beyond the cultural spectacle, Umar underscored the festival’s potential to invigorate Indonesia’s creative economy. “We provide a lot of stages for our creative economy,” she explained, affectionately referring to creative entrepreneurs as “creative economy warriors.” These platforms, she believes, will allow Indonesians to discover and connect with local creators, fostering economic opportunities and collaboration.
A large-scale bazaar, scheduled for Feb. 22 to March 1 at Lapangan Banteng, will showcase over 200 local brands, encompassing both food and beverage businesses and other creative enterprises. “The purpose is for all Indonesians, of all walks of life, to gather together because food combines and blends people,” Umar stated.
The celebration also aims to bridge generational gaps by making traditional culture more appealing to younger audiences. Umar pointed to her own footwear as an example, noting the lion dance design elements incorporated into her sneakers. “This is one example of how the creative economy can make cultures relevant to the youth,” she said, explaining how creative industries can transform cultural heritage into modern expressions that resonate with a new generation.
Umar expressed optimism that these initiatives will strengthen creative and economic cooperation between Indonesia and China. “We are hoping to see more and more collaborations between the two nations, especially on the creative economy side,” she said. Her own experiences visiting cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou have deepened her appreciation for cultural exchange and innovation, leading her to believe that “deeper understanding of cultures bonds people together.”
She extended a warm invitation to Chinese tourists, encouraging them to experience Indonesia’s cultural diversity firsthand. “When you come to Indonesia, we welcome you with open arms,” she said. “We’d like to highlight that to the world so that people will know us better, and then the blends could happen.”
