336,000 Register to Attend Independence Day Ceremony at Palace

More than 336,000 people have registered to attend the Proclamation Seconds commemoration ceremony for Indonesia’s Independence Day at Merdeka Palace on 17 August 2026. The figure far exceeds the initial capacity of only around 5,500 participants, prompting the committee to add approximately 3,400 slots to accommodate public enthusiasm. “Registrations over the four days it was opened reached above 336,000,” said State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi during a press briefing at the DPR Building on Monday (10/8). Prasetyo stated that the capacity increase was made after the committee observed the high level of public interest in attending the 81st Independence Day commemoration in person. The additional 3,400 participants will be divided into two sessions, namely the morning ceremony and the flag-lowering ceremony. According to Prasetyo, the decision to add slots was taken so that more citizens could directly experience the independence commemoration atmosphere at the Palace. He also expressed appreciation to all members of the public who had participated in the invitation registration. “This indicates and proves that public enthusiasm to attend the proclamation seconds commemoration is very high,” he said. Although capacity has been increased, the committee will not distribute the opportunity solely based on registration. The government will use the registrant data to prioritise citizens who have never attended a ceremony at the Palace. Prasetyo explained that the registrant data includes people who have previously attended a ceremony at the Palace, including last year. They are still permitted to register, but the committee will manage the participant composition so that this year’s opportunity is given more to those who have never attended. “For this year, we will allocate the portion to prioritise those who have never attended at all,” said Prasetyo. In addition to discussing the mechanism for public attendance, the government’s coordination meeting today also addressed preparations for President Prabowo Subianto’s state address. The annual speech is scheduled to take place on Friday, 14 August 2026. This agenda is the initial part of the series of independence month commemorations. Following the state address, the series will continue with a sacred reflection ceremony at the National Heroes Cemetery on Sunday, 16 August. The peak of the 81st Independence Day commemoration will take place on Monday, 17 August. This year’s proclamation seconds commemoration ceremony is scheduled to be held at Merdeka Palace. Prasetyo, who also serves as Chair of the Independence Day Committee, said all these preparations are part of the government’s routine agenda in welcoming the series of independence commemorations.