Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, discussed plans for Festival 28 Bahasa 2026 with Unlocking Nusantara. The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy considers the festival, which will be held at SMK Bakti Karya Parigi, Pangandaran, strategic in strengthening tolerance, preserving cultural diversity, and nurturing Indonesia’s young creative talent.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, says that Festival 28 Bahasa 2026 serves as a strategic platform for promoting tolerance, preserving culture, and nurturing Indonesia’s young creative talent, at Thamrin Nine, Jakarta (15/09/2026).
“Multicultural schools provide a safe space for all children to simply be children, regardless of differences in race, ethnicity, or skin color. When they feel safe and their needs are met, that is where a child’s creativity can grow, because ultimately, after they graduate, these students will become the driving force of the future economy,” said Irene Umar during an audience at the Ministry of Creative Economy office in Jakarta, Tuesday (15/9).
Irene emphasized that the state considers early support for the development of creative economy human resources to be essential. Support in meeting basic needs, providing quality educational facilities, and creating inclusive platforms for expression without discriminating based on background is important.
Festival 28 Bahasa 2026 is designed as a means of fostering national awareness and tolerance among young people through a creative economy approach. The series of events will feature cross-subsector collaborations involving performing arts, music, crafts, and culinary through a Cultural Parade, Creative Dance, Regional Dance, Regional Language Music, Regional Language Oratory, Bakar Batu Culinary Demonstration, Traditional House Exhibition, MSME Bazaar, Workshops, Intergenerational Discussions, and a Festival Stage.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“This celebration provides a space for children from different backgrounds to learn from one another about acceptance, openness, and togetherness amid diversity. It nurtures their curiosity about their friends’ cultures while also enabling them to take pride in their own,” said Multicultural Class Program Initiator Ai Nurhidayat.
In addition to serving as a means of cultural acculturation, the festival has proven to be a driver of the local economy and community empowerment in Parigi District, Pangandaran. Its track record since 2018 through 2025 has involved more than 10,000 participants, including young people, students, tourists, and groups of housewives. For the 2026 edition, the organizers are targeting 1,000 direct participants.
The organization of Festival 28 Bahasa 2026 is expected to continue providing an inclusive space for young people to express their creative works. Synergy among the government, educational institutions, and communities serves as an important foundation for nurturing high-quality creative human resources toward realizing Indonesia’s Golden Generation vision.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
