Isbat Session for Determination of Idulfitri Scheduled for 19 March 2026
The Ministry of Religious Affairs will hold an isbat session to determine 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah (Idulfitri) on 19 March 2026, coinciding with 29 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah, at the H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium, Ministry of Religious Affairs office, Jakarta.
The Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Religious Affairs Ministry, Abu Rokhmad, stated that the isbat session for 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah has been prepared in accordance with applicable procedures, encompassing both substantive and technical support aspects.
“The session’s implementation is based on calculation data and hilal observation results that have been verified, and follows a mechanism that is open to the public,” he said in Jakarta on Sunday (1 March).
The session will be held at the H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium following renovations to several facilities in that area. The venue selection considers technical aspects, including adequate space, representation for invited guests, and the relatively quiet office environment and traffic conditions, as most employees and the public will be travelling for the Lebaran holiday period.
This arrangement is expected to facilitate traffic management and parking arrangements.
Rokhmad noted that the isbat session will involve various representatives, including astronomy experts from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), planetariums, observatories, representatives of Islamic non-governmental organisations, and other relevant institutions.
“Because it involves broad representation, the isbat session’s decision has strong religious legitimacy,” he said.
The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Islamic Law Development, Arsad Hidayat, stated that technical preparations continue to be refined, including coordination of hilal observation monitoring at various points across Indonesia.
“From a technical standpoint, we have prepared support for session facilities and infrastructure, a hilal observation reporting system, and coordination with hilal observation points throughout Indonesia. We hope the session process can proceed in an orderly, accurate, and informative manner for the public,” he said.
He also appealed to the public to await the government’s official announcement after the entire session proceedings are completed.
The isbat session will commence with a seminar on hilal position, followed by verification of hilal observation reports from various regions, then the holding of the isbat session and official announcement of the determination of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah by the Minister of Religious Affairs.