Bengkulu Provincial Government Targets 250,000 Tourists for 2026 Tabut Festival

The Bengkulu Provincial Government is targeting around 250,000 tourist visits during the 2026 Tabut Festival, which is scheduled to take place from 16–26 June 2026.

“Synergy between all parties is crucial to ensure that this year’s Tabut Festival is conducted safely, orderly, and successfully, while simultaneously providing a positive impact on the tourism sector and the regional economy,” stated the Provincial Secretary of Bengkulu, Herwan Antoni, in Bengkulu on Monday.

The visitation target includes tourists from various age groups, including international visitors, particularly from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. To support the achievement of this goal, Herwan Antoni led a preparatory meeting for the 2026 Tabut Festival, discussing various aspects ranging from traffic management to support for business actors and the creative economy.

The presence of tourists is expected to revitalise the cultural festival. The local government also presented projections regarding the economic impact expected to be felt by the community during the 2026 Tabut Festival. The festival is projected to involve approximately 500 MSMEs and creative economy actors, over 1,000 workers, and around 3,000 arts and culture practitioners. The economic transaction value during the festival is estimated to reach Rp25 billion.

The festival will feature various arts and cultural performances, bazaars, MSME exhibitions, and several supporting activities aimed at introducing Bengkulu’s cultural richness to a wider audience. The Bengkulu Provincial Government hopes that the 2026 Tabut Festival will not only serve as a platform for cultural preservation but also strengthen Bengkulu’s image as a premier cultural tourism destination in Indonesia, while driving sustainable economic growth for the community.

The Tabut Festival is an annual cultural tradition of the Bengkulu people, passed down through generations, and is part of the Islamic New Year celebrations. This tradition has evolved into one of the flagship cultural tourism agendas in Bengkulu Province. Since 2018, the Tabut Festival has been included in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) list due to its strong cultural value and its ability to provide a multiplier effect for the community and the region.