2,242 Participants to Compete in National MTQ in Semarang
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that 2,242 participants will take part in the 31st National Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ) in Semarang, Central Java, comprising 1,751 core participants and 491 reserves.
“We see that the MTQ, with all its competition branches, can be a talent pool that needs to be continuously encouraged, serving as our social capital in the context of religious diplomacy,” said the Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abu Rokhmad, in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The National MTQ will take place from 11 to 20 September 2026, featuring eight competition branches: Quranic Recitation Art (329 participants), Quranic Qiraat (184), Quranic Memorisation (331), Quranic Tafsir (130), Fahmil Quran (196), Syarhil Quran (202), Quranic Calligraphy Art (315), and the Quranic Scientific Writing Competition or KTIQ (64).
Abu Rokhmad stated that the MTQ is not merely a competition but a part of developing religious talent with the potential to support Indonesia’s diplomacy on an international level. According to him, the MTQ, which has been conducted in stages over many years, produces talent across various religious fields. This potential must be continuously developed to become Indonesia’s social capital, particularly in religious diplomacy.
“We can utilise the results of the MTQ as talent that can be disseminated to the global community,” he said. Abu Rokhmad expressed his hope that the Quranic Recitation Development Institute (LPTQ) will continue to innovate and develop so that the achievements emerging from the MTQ become increasingly recognised internationally.
Meanwhile, the Director of Islamic Religious Information, Muchlis Muhammad Hanafi, explained that the registration and verification process for participants is conducted in stages through the e-MTQ system. Registration will take place from 10 to 31 July 2026 and will involve all provincial delegations.
Verification includes all administrative requirements according to technical guidelines. Participants’ population data will also be electronically matched with data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil). According to Muchlis, this step is taken to ensure data validity and to prevent violations related to the identity and domicile of participants.
He noted that the success of the MTQ is not measured solely by the grandeur of the opening ceremony or the smooth running of the competition. The MTQ is also expected to expand the public’s love for the Quran and bring Quranic values into daily life.
“The success of this MTQ is not only measured by the grandeur of the opening and the smoothness of the competition, but most importantly by how we can expand the community’s love for the Quran, and our efforts to bring Quranic values into personal, social, and national life,” he said.
Muchlis expressed his appreciation to the Central Java Provincial Government as the host, all provincial LPTQ, central and regional committees, and all parties involved in the preparations for the 31st National MTQ in 2026.