Jakarta, 9 January 2026 – The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy / Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, officially opened the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) World Championship, widely known as the M7 World Championship. As the most prestigious annual tournament in the Mobile Legends esports scene, the event is seen as opening broad opportunities for cross-subsector collaboration, beginning with the game industry.
The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the M7 World Championship 2026 at Kota Intan Bridge, PIK 2, Jakarta, Friday (9/1/2026).
“We are very pleased that Indonesia can host the M7 World Championship. This marks a tangible starting point for cross-sector collaboration within the creative industry through an international event. The impact of hosting this tournament has also brought visitors from various countries who see Indonesia as a tourist destination,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar at the event venue in Kota Intan Bridge, PIK 2, on Friday, 9 January 2026.
The Deputy Minister highlighted esports tournaments as strategic international platforms for Indonesia, particularly as the M7 Series showcases collaborations with local intellectual property (IP) and brands, enabling them to gain global exposure. Prior to the event, collaboration plans with MOONTON Games had been explored through a series of audiences held in January and October 2025.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
Indonesia’s position as a global esports hub continues to strengthen, as MLBB is no longer viewed merely as a game, but as a trend reflecting digital lifestyle and culture, serving as a new space for expression. The broader objective is to embed Indonesia’s cultural identity within the established MLBB ecosystem.
“Esports has become one of the key drivers of the global creative economy. Therefore, the Ministry of Creative Economy consistently strengthens Indonesia’s position not only as a growth center for the game subsector, but also as a leader across the entire ecosystem. Let the world see Indonesia. Let us put Indonesia on the map across all subsectors, because our creative economy champions are ready to go global,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
The celebration of the rise of MLBB esports in Indonesia on the global stage of the M7 World Championship 2026 was further enlivened by a series of creative collaborations. These included M7-themed Batik in limited-edition designs in collaboration with the Shiroshima brand; a local IP from Sekuya, which released a cover of the song “Sizzle” (the official theme song originally performed by girl group No Na); as well as Gatotkaca M7 Graffiti featured across 20 cities, and the installation of the Gatotkaca M7 Statue as a symbol of strength, national pride, and esports-based intellectual property with global reach.
The opening ceremony of the M7 World Championship was marked by a vibrant celebration, featuring an Indonesian cultural parade encompassing dance, fashion, music, IP, murals, and in-game maps accompanying the parade of participating esports teams. An epic stage performance featuring 20 Gatotkaca performers as the iconic MLBB hero also drew strong public attention. The entire opening ceremony was broadcast live through the official MLBB Esports YouTube channel and the MPL Indonesia YouTube account.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
The world witnessed Jakarta transform into a living stage for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) during the M7 Opening Ceremony, held under the theme “Rise As One.” The event celebrated the rise of MLBB as one of Indonesia’s national sports while positioning Indonesia as a global esports hub.
“Rise As One is more than just a theme. It is a message to the global MLBB community and fans. The M7 Opening Ceremony is a celebration of that idea and demonstrates the global influence of MLBB Esports. This event unites cultures, honors heritage, and aims to inspire MLBB fans worldwide to celebrate the spirit of competition together,” said Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
Accompanying Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar at the event was the Director of Games, Luat Sihombing. Also in attendance were Southeast Asia Head of Esports Dylan Chia Yao Feng and Global Head of Mobile Legends Esports at MOONTON Games Tiger Xu.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
