Jakarta, October 11, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), together with Negeri Elok, organized LITERAIA 2026 at the National Museum in Jakarta. The festival serves as a collaborative platform for writers, publishers, literacy communities, and creative industry players to encourage the creation of more Indonesian intellectual property (IP) with economic value. This collaboration is also part of a joint effort to build a literacy ecosystem that connects literary works with opportunities for adaptation and development across various creative mediums.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, together with Negeri Elok, organizes LITERAIA 2026 at the National Museum, Jakarta, Sunday (11/10/2026).
Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya said that literary works play a strategic role in building a storytelling-based creative economy (storynomics). According to him, books are not merely reading materials but can also be developed into films, animation, games, performances, and various other creative products that generate added economic value.
“Literature is the foundation of a storytelling-based creative economy, or storynomics. Therefore, the downstream development and commercialization of intellectual property are essential to ensuring that Indonesian writers’ works continue to grow, reach broader markets, and generate economic benefits for their creators,” said the Minister of Creative Economy.
Carrying the theme “Literacy of Sumatra,” LITERAIA 2026 features discussions, workshops, and literary art installations highlighting the potential to adapt and develop written works across various creative mediums. Together with Negeri Elok, the festival is designed not only as a literacy event but also as a meeting place for writers, publishers, communities, and creative industry players to explore collaboration opportunities, develop intellectual property, and expand market access for Indonesian literary works.
As part of its support for the publishing ecosystem, the Ministry of Creative Economy, together with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries and institutions, is promoting a change in the tax policy for book royalties to a final income tax rate of 1.5 percent. The policy, which is currently undergoing the harmonization process, is expected to provide tax certainty, improve writers’ welfare, and strengthen the sustainability of the national publishing industry.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“We continue to strengthen the publishing ecosystem through copyright protection, intellectual property commercialization, and expanded access to financing and markets. We hope that more Indonesian literary works will develop into leading IP and reach national and global markets,” the Minister added.
The opening of LITERAIA 2026 was marked by a dramatic reading of the novel Laskar Pelangi by the Minister of Creative Economy, together with Ratih Kumala, Valerie Patkar, Head of Museums and Cultural Heritage Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin, and representatives of Negeri Elok. The reading symbolized how literary works can transcend the pages of a book, inspire generations, and create opportunities for development across various creative mediums.
Through its collaboration with Negeri Elok, the festival also features an art installation by Dedy Sufriadi made from books of Sumatran literature, a Reading Together with Indonesian Children program, and various discussion and workshop sessions to strengthen the national literacy ecosystem. Negeri Elok has also collaborated with creative communities to contribute and recommend literary works for the National Museum Library collection, as part of efforts to broaden public access to Indonesian literature.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by Deputy for Digital and Technology Creativity Muhammad Neil El Himam; Director of Photography and Publishing Iman Santosa; Director of Digital Content Yuana Rochma Astuti; Director of Strategic Studies and Management Agus Syarip Hidayat; Director of Intellectual Property Development and Facilitation Muhammad Fauzy; Director of Advertising Andy Ruswar; and Director of Culinary Romi Astuti.
Also in attendance were Deputy for Library Collection Development and Library Information Services at the National Library Suharyanto; Director General of Secondary and Special Education Tatang Muttaqin; Director of Facilities and Infrastructure at the Ministry of Culture Feri Arlius; Deputy I of the Government Communication Agency Fahd Pahdepie; Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI) Arys Hilman Nugraha; as well as writers, literary figures, and literacy practitioners from various generations.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
