Drone Display, F-16 Jets, and Giant Flag Enliven Merdeka Run 2026
The Merdeka Run 2026 event took place in a festive atmosphere on Saturday (29/8), featuring a number of attractions, including a drone formation, F-16 fighter jets, and the hoisting of a giant Red and White flag.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya flagged off around 12,000 participants of the Merdeka Run 2026 in front of Merdeka Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Jakarta, on Saturday morning.
Before the flag-off, a drone display enlivened the event by showing a number of patterns. These included a map of Indonesia, the Red and White flag, and a Garuda with the words ‘Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia’. The drone lights decorated the still-dark Jakarta sky from 5.32 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.
The opening of the running event, held to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, began with the singing of the national anthem Indonesia Raya accompanied by the hoisting of the Red and White flag in the grounds of Merdeka Palace.
After that, three F-16 jets flew over the sky above Monas as a sign that the running event was about to begin. The starting flag was raised by the Minister of State Secretary, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and the Cabinet Secretary at exactly 6.00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.
Another attraction at Merdeka Run 2026 occurred during the run itself. A helicopter carried a giant Red and White flag across the Jakarta sky.
The Merdeka Run event was held as the closing of the series of activities for the 2026 Independence Month. Several categories were offered, namely general, family, masters, and wheelchair.
Merdeka Run 2026 covered a route of 8 kilometres, starting in front of Merdeka Palace, along Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jalan MH Thamrin, the HI Roundabout, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Dukuh Atas, and back towards Merdeka Palace.
A number of public figures also took part in the running event, including celebrity and Special Presidential Envoy for Youth Generation Development and Arts Workers Raffi Ahmad, singer Gisella Anastasia, actress Fanny Ghassani, Indonesian national team coach John Herdman, and Indonesian national team player Ivar Jenner.
Several roads were also temporarily closed to support the event, from around 4.00 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.
Merdeka Run 2026 was also enlivened by performances from Wali Band and Moluccan Soul, dozens of MSMEs offering various products, and various attractive door prizes.