Jakarta's 499th Anniversary: Residents Flock to Bundaran HI
Residents filled the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) area in Central Jakarta on Saturday, 27 June 2026. They attended the peak night celebration of the 499th Anniversary of the City of Jakarta, which took place from afternoon until evening.
The stage provided by the Jakarta Provincial Government at Bundaran HI was enlivened by various performances. A number of visitors crowded in front of the stage, while others were seen sitting around the streets that served as the event location.
The Jakarta Transportation Agency closed the M.H. Thamrin road section for tonight’s anniversary celebration. The residents who attended the event appeared to number in the thousands.
Desy, a woman from Pondok Labu, South Jakarta, came with her family in the afternoon. "I came here with my husband and child. It’s nice to have free entertainment," she said.
The Chair of the 499th Jakarta Anniversary Committee, who is also the Assistant for Economy and Finance of the Jakarta Provincial Secretary, Suharini Eliawati, said this year’s event presented various entertainment and cultural activities.
"The 499th anniversary is a momentum for Jakarta towards five centuries of the city’s journey. Therefore, we are filling this year’s anniversary with various gifts for the community," Suharini said in a written statement on Friday, 26 June 2026.
The peak night of "Towards 5 Centuries of Jakarta" took place on Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. The event was open to the public and free of charge. To support the smooth running of the event, the M.H. Thamrin road section from the Sarinah area to Dukuh Atas was temporarily closed on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.
The 499th anniversary commemoration was enlivened by performances from Padi Reborn, Mahalini, Adrian Khalif, Cici Paramida, Mollucan Soul, Sania, Skarbu, and Pasming Based. The event also featured a lighting show, video mapping, flying LED, environmentally friendly art installations, and the launch of the logo towards five centuries of Jakarta.
The peak celebration of Jakarta’s anniversary took place over two days. On Saturday, there was a music concert and multimedia performance titled "Towards 5 Centuries of Jakarta". Meanwhile, on Sunday, 28 June 2026, the public could enjoy the "Jakarta Full of Colour" event featuring various art, cultural, sports, and entertainment attractions in the Bundaran HI area.
On Sunday, various attractions enlivened the event, including PoundFit, a giant balloon parade from Sarinah to Bundaran HI, a marching band, a mass Nusantara dance involving around 500 dancers, a collaboration between Gambang Kromong and ballet, urban theatre, and a waste sorting action.