Klaten to host the 2026 International Cycling History Conference

Klaten Regency, Central Java, has been chosen to host the 35th International Cycling History Conference (ICHC) in 2026, to be held at the Pendapa of Klaten Regency on Wednesday 20 May. The event was attended by the Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia, Marc Gerritsen; the German Ambassador to Indonesia, Ralf Beste; a representative of the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, Yusuf Nugroho; Central Java Secretary Sumarno; and Amalinda Savirani, an academic from Universitas Gadjah Mada. The international cycling history conference forms part of the Klaten International Cycling Festival 2026, which runs from 17-24 May 2026 at several sites in Klaten Regency, including the Prambanan temple area. Klaten Regent Hamenang Wajar Ismoyo said Indonesia was trusted to host the ICHC this year, and Klaten Regency was chosen as the venue. “We are proud that for the first time the ICHC is attended by participants from more than 40 countries. This shows that cycling is not only a transport tool but also a symbol of friendship, history, sustainability, and humanity across nations,” Hamenang said in his speech. He added that the ICHC forum will not only discuss the history of cycling but also environmental issues, health, tourism, and the future of environmentally friendly transport. He also noted that the conference and festival this year will run for eight full days. During the event, participants will not only engage in academic forums but also be invited to experience Klaten society life, cultural villages, local cuisine, and local traditions. “Participants can experience directly the hospitality of the Klaten people and get to know local culture more closely,” he said. At the closing ceremony, the organisers read out the Klaten Charter, which contains five main points about cycling, culture, and a sustainable future. The charter states, among other things, that cycling is a world cultural heritage as well as a tool for the future; a good city is a human-friendly city; cycling is a concrete act of sustainability; culture forms the foundation of sustainable mobility; and villages and small towns have an important role in the world’s future. The ICHC event is a prestigious academic forum that forms part of the Klaten International Cycling Festival (KLIC Fest) from 17-24 May 2026.