Central Java Becomes Favourite Destination for Mudik 2026
The Land Transportation Directorate General of the Ministry of Transportation, Irjen Pol Aan Suhanan, has stated that Central Java is the most popular destination for Lebaran homecoming travellers in 2026.
“Central Java has become the preferred destination from the Greater Jakarta area for homecoming and holiday travel on this occasion,” Aan said during the CNN Indonesia Mudik 2026 Team Dispatch event at the Trans Media Building in South Jakarta on Friday, 13 March.
This year, an estimated 143.9 million people are predicted to travel during the mudik season, a slight decrease from 2025’s 146 million travellers.
“More than 50 per cent of Indonesia’s population will undertake travel journeys, either within cities or outside cities. There will be 143.9 million people travelling. This is slightly fewer than last year by 1.7 per cent; last year there were 146 million, although actual realised numbers reached 154 million. Now we are at 143 million. This year the numbers are likely to be higher than our projections,” he explained.
The Ministry of Transportation has also signed a Joint Decision Letter regarding vehicle restrictions during the 2026 Lebaran mudik period.
“Three-axle vehicles are restricted, although there are exceptions for those carrying basic commodities and other essential materials, which are exempt,” he stated.
On the same occasion, CNN Indonesia Editorial Director Titin Rosmasari assured that the news organisation would provide comprehensive coverage of mudik 2026.
Titin explained that CNN Indonesia would deploy hundreds of journalists, including teams dispatched from Jakarta and regional contributors across the country.
He detailed that there would be 130 contributors throughout Indonesia covering mudik 2026. Additionally, a national internship team and 50 organic crew members would be deployed across 13 strategic locations during the mudik period.
“The difference this year is that we are also involving the national internship team; these are individuals on internships and we are impressed by their enthusiasm and genuine spirit as journalists,” Titin said.
“Besides the 130 contributors across Indonesia, there are 50 organic crew members spread across approximately 13 locations, including locations on the Japek 2 highway, Merak, Bakaheuni, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Makassar, and East Java, because many people are also heading to Bali,” he continued.
CNN Indonesia’s Go Mudik 2026 team also received monitoring assistance from Jasa Marga for tracking mudik traffic flow.
“The main objective is to spread monitoring points as broadly and comprehensively as possible, with assistance from Jasa Marga’s CCTV system. This helps us obtain more extensive and complete monitoring,” Titin noted.