Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Unveils Series of Events for Indonesia's 81st Independence Day
The government is organising a series of events to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence. The programme will commence with dhikr and collective prayer, concluding with a fun run activity.
“Today, we will provide an explanation regarding the activities to be held during the Month of Independence. Over the next month, we will outline the work to be undertaken by the committee, the government, and the involvement of other parties,” said Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro during a press conference at the State Secretariat Office, Central Jakarta, on Friday (31/7/2026).
The full schedule for the 81st Independence Day commemorations is as follows:
National Dhikr and Prayer
This event will be held on Saturday, 1 August 2026, at the National Monument (Monas) area. The gathering will be attended by various officials, religious leaders, and worshippers from different faiths.
“This National Dhikr and Prayer serves as a moment of gratitude and a symbol of unity and harmony between religious communities. God willing, the dhikr will also feature national salawat led by Habib Syech bin Abdul Qodir Assegaf from Solo. The public is welcome to attend the national salawat led by Habib Syech,” said Juri.
Presentation of Medals and Honours
As in previous years, President Prabowo Subianto will confer medals and honours upon individuals and organisations deemed to have rendered significant service to the nation. However, the Palace has not yet released the specific schedule for the presentation.
“Candidates come from various backgrounds, including academics, religious figures, artists, bureaucrats, and the military, as well as other figures who are strictly and transparently selected by the Council of Titles, Medals, and Honours,” he explained.
Presidential State Address
President Prabowo is also scheduled to deliver two state addresses at the DPR/MPR RI Building on 14 August 2026. The first session will be the state address before the Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD. The second session will consist of the presentation of the 2027 State Budget (APBN) Bill and the Financial Note Draft before the DPR Plenary Session.
“These activities are coordinated by the General Secretariats of the MPR, DPR, and DPD, in collaboration with the Ministry of State Secretariat, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas,” he noted.
National Pilgrimage and Holy Reflection
Furthermore, a National Pilgrimage and Holy Reflection is planned for Saturday, 15 August 2026, at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta. This activity serves as a gesture of respect from the state, government, and Indonesian people to the independence fighters and national heroes, while providing a moment to reflect on the meaning of independence.
Proclamation Ceremony and Flag Lowering Ceremony
President Prabowo will personally lead the Proclamation Ceremony on 17 August 2026, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. For this ceremony, the Palace has invited 8,100 members of the public to attend both the flag-raising and flag-lowering sessions.
“Invitations to the public are also provided openly through a ‘war ticket’ mechanism. Therefore, we will implement a ticket system for those wishing to participate in the Proclamation Ceremony at Merdeka Palace,” said Juri.
People’s Festival (Pesta Rakyat)
On the same day, 17 August 2026, the government will host a People’s Festival from afternoon until night at the Monas area. The government is preparing various entertainment programmes and free food offerings.
“Various forms of entertainment will be provided for the public to enjoy throughout the 17th, from afternoon to night. There will also be several performances for the wider community, ranging from drone shows and video mapping to fireworks,” Juri explained.
Merdeka Run
The series of 81st Independence Day commemorations will conclude with the Merdeka Run, a fun run event inviting all levels of society to participate. The route for the Merdeka Run will start in front of the Merdeka Palace, covering specified distances with options of 5 km, 8.1 km, and 10 km.