Jakarta, July 20, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) fully supports the Jakarta Dessert Week (JDW) 2026, which this year embraces dangdut music as its central theme. The initiative reflects the government's concrete strategy to integrate the culinary and music subsectors in order to accelerate national economic growth while strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesia's creative economy ecosystem on the global stage.
The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) fully supports the organization of Jakarta Dessert Week (JDW) 2026.
"The national culinary industry cannot thrive in isolation without strong connections to other creative economy subsectors. When different creative disciplines collaborate and interact harmoniously, they create richer cultural experiences while opening up new economic opportunities for creative industry players," said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya.
This synergy brings together two strategic creative economy subsectors: the music industry, which recorded IDR 5.14 trillion in investment (accounting for 0.54 percent of the creative economy), and the culinary industry, which attracted IDR 29.57 trillion in investment (contributing 41.06 percent). Based on the Ministry's creative economy growth projections, this cross-sector integration is expected to generate a strong multiplier effect by expanding market opportunities for both industries while promoting more inclusive economic growth.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
As Indonesia's largest dessert festival, Jakarta Dessert Week has boldly chosen dangdut as its official theme for 2026. The theme reflects dangdut's identity not merely as a popular music genre, but as a dynamic and inclusive cultural symbol capable of bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and generations.
"Through this year's dangdut theme, we invite pastry chefs, dessert artisans, and food industry professionals to translate the spirit of Indonesia's most popular music genre into expressive culinary creations. This artistic collaboration also reinforces the role of local culture as an effective instrument of Indonesia's soft power on the global stage," the Minister added.
The citywide festival will take place from August 24 to September 13, 2026, as an official event within the Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program. The celebration will feature four flagship programs: the Industry and Media Gathering, City Takeover across dozens of cafés, the public Dessert Markt festival, and the Golden Swirl Awards 2026.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The convergence of cultural heritage and contemporary creativity creates an open space for exploration, blending nostalgia, culinary experimentation, and visual aesthetics. This innovative concept demonstrates that food is no longer simply a consumer product, but also a powerful medium for cultural diplomacy that introduces Indonesia's identity to international audiences.
Through JDW 2026, Indonesia's creative economy ecosystem is being strengthened through the collaborative GADO GADO Cultural Network approach. The Ministry of Creative Economy remains confident that sustained cross-sector collaboration will continue to stimulate macroeconomic growth while reinforcing Indonesia's strategic position in the global creative economy.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
