Golo Koe Festival in Labuan Bajo to be Opened by Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri
The Golo Koe Maria Assumpta Nusantara Festival in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, is scheduled to be opened by Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana on Monday afternoon, 10 August 2026. The peak week of the fifth Golo Koe Festival will be held at the Waterfront City Labuan Bajo area from 10 to 15 August 2026.
A member of the festival’s publication and promotion team, Romo Heribertus Ratu, confirmed the minister’s attendance. Widiyanti is scheduled to arrive in Labuan Bajo on Monday morning, with the festival opening set to begin at 3.30 p.m. local time.
Heribertus, who chairs the Social Communications Commission of the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, stated that the minister’s presence signifies national recognition for the Golo Koe Festival, which has been included in the Top 10 of the Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) programme. The festival is organised by the Catholic Church of the Diocese of Labuan Bajo in cooperation with the West Manggarai Regency Government.
Tourists visiting Labuan Bajo can attend the nearly week-long festival, which will feature a creative economy exhibition, cultural arts performances, a carnival, and a grand land and sea procession. Heribertus described the 2026 Golo Koe Festival as a celebration of faith, culture, social values, and ecology, inviting the entire community to participate in a movement to restore the earth.
The festival carries the theme ‘Communal Pilgrimage in Synergistic Fellowship to Care for the Integrity of Creation’ with the tagline ‘Moving Together, Restoring the Earth’. Heribertus emphasised that the festival is not merely a celebration of culture and faith, but also a collective call to preserve the environment.
Visitors will be welcomed on the first day with an MSME exhibition, art performances, and various cultural attractions showcasing local heritage. On 11 August, the programme will focus on ecological commitment through an environmental action at Binongko Beach, including an ecological prayer service, waste clean-up, and mangrove planting. The festival will also feature special booths for ecological education and limit the use of single-use plastics. Subsequent days will include socio-charitable activities, a cultural carnival, and a mass dance performance involving hundreds of students. The spiritual highlight will be a grand land and sea procession on 14 August, carrying a statue of Mary from Stella Maris Church to the Golo Koe Cave. The festival will conclude on 15 August with a grand Eucharistic celebration at Waterfront City, followed by a concert featuring guest star Alvin Jo.