Jakarta, 6 March, 2026 – The success of the Imlek Festival: Harmoni Imlek Nusantara has become a strategic foundation for bringing the festival onto the global stage. The festival has also been officially registered as an Intellectual Property (IP) event.
Irene Umar, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, attended the closing gathering of the Imlek Festival: Harmoni Imlek Nusantara organizing committee in Jakarta on Thursday (March 5, 2026).
“In fact, all of us are contributing to holding the space for the world. At a time when global tensions are high, we light the lamps and lanterns, and we ourselves become those lanterns for a better world,” said Irene Umar, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy and Chair of the Imlek Festival: Harmoni Imlek Nusantara committee, while attending the committee’s closing event in Jakarta on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The initiative to position the Imlek Festival: Harmoni Imlek Nusantara as an Intellectual Property (IP) event, according to Irene Umar, serves as a strategic foundation to bring the festival to the global stage. She noted that the festival is designed as a national platform that showcases Indonesia’s spirit of togetherness to the world.
On that occasion, Irene Umar also expressed appreciation to all parties involved in organizing the event, which took place from February 22 to March 3, 2026. According to her, the success of the event was the result of collective efforts from various stakeholders collaborating to present a celebration that is inclusive and meaningful.
Doc. Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Various activities held across the people’s stage, community stage, and main stage represented the richness of culture and the creativity of the community. The Imlek Festival: Harmoni Imlek Nusantara was also organized as part of a charitable initiative. After the series of events concluded, various social activities will continue to be carried out periodically as a continuation of the spirit built through the festival.
“We hope that through this initiative the wheels of the economy will grow, providing opportunities for everyone while strengthening harmony among all. Through this year’s event, we want to show that Indonesia is a destination for religious celebrations for people of all backgrounds. Together, let’s pray for the world,” added Irene Umar.
Meanwhile, Nasaruddin Umar described this year’s Imlek Festival: Harmoni Imlek Nusantara as one of the most successful celebrations in Indonesia’s history. According to him, the success was driven by the fact that the series of activities took place not only in major cities but also reached various regions and communities across the country.
Doc. Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“I would also like to say that this is the most successful and most remarkable Lunar New Year celebration compared to previous years, perhaps even throughout Indonesia’s history. The phenomenon was not only seen in Jakarta but also in many major cities and other regions. Even during Ramadan, in several cities in Sulawesi, festivals were held and even celebrated at an Islamic boarding school in South Sulawesi. What we did yesterday seemed to revive the theological traditions of our past, and this should continue,” said Nasaruddin Umar.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
