Jakarta, August 23, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) praised the consistency of Pagelaran Sabang Merauke, which has continuously presented grand-scale cultural and performing arts shows since 2022. This year, under the theme Hikayat Srikandi Nusantara, Pagelaran Sabang Merauke: Hanya Indonesia yang Punya 2026 once again captivated audiences.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, attended the Sabang Merauke Performance, themed “Hikayat Srikandi Nusantara”, Pagelaran Sabang Merauke: Hanya Indonesia yang Punya 2026, at Indonesia Arena, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday (23/8/2026).
“I greatly appreciate and am very proud of Pagelaran Sabang Merauke because I see how culture and legends are presented in such a creative way. The technology is also extraordinary, bringing together music, dance, and traditional attire in a truly remarkable way,” said Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, after watching the performance at Indonesia Arena, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday (23/8).
Pagelaran Sabang Merauke Indonesian Broadway is a grand-scale performing arts masterpiece initiated by iForte that consistently combines theater, dance, music, and ethnic fashion parades from across the Indonesian archipelago. Held for three days from August 21–23, 2026, this spectacular performance presents stories of exemplary women from various Indonesian folk tales, highlighting their inspiring values while reflecting the role of women in shaping cultural narratives.
The grandeur of Hikayat Srikandi Nusantara was showcased as a source of pride for younger generations in preserving ancestral heritage through the involvement of 1,700 production personnel, including 700 artists and 387 dancers, supported by more than 1,500 costumes.
On the previous day, Saturday (22/8), Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, was equally impressed. She said the performance could serve as a contemporary bridge for younger generations to appreciate the beauty of Indonesian culture through a combination of theater, dance, and music, representing the strength of an end-to-end creative industry with a significant impact.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Watching the performance, the first thing I felt was pride in being Indonesian. Second, you simply cannot help but love Indonesia. There were so many moments that made me realize how rich Indonesia is and that only Indonesia has these things. And the symbol of unity at the end was truly moving,” said the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy.
Director of Pagelaran Sabang Merauke: Hanya Indonesia yang Punya 2026, Rusmedie Agus, expressed his gratitude for the return of Pagelaran Sabang Merauke. He hopes the performance can continue to be enjoyed, particularly by younger audiences, and inspire renewed enthusiasm for Indonesian culture.
“Our hope is that this will become an ongoing event that people can enjoy while appreciating our traditions and culture. Especially for younger audiences and the younger generation, we hope Pagelaran Sabang Merauke can inspire them and reignite their enthusiasm for the culture we have,” said Rusmedie.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
