Kudus Regency Proposes 13 Intangible Cultural Heritages for National Designation

The Kudus Regency government, through the Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar), is once again promoting the preservation of local cultural heritage by proposing 13 Intangible Cultural Heritages (WBTb) for national designation in 2026. This step forms part of efforts to strengthen Kudus’s identity while ensuring the sustainability of local traditions. Acting Head of the Kudus Disbudpar, Teguh Riyanto, stated that his office is currently preparing academic studies and compiling various supporting data as primary requirements for the WBTb submission. The following are the cultural works from Kudus proposed for inclusion in the 2026 National WBTb List: [Note: The original article lists 13 items here, but the provided text cuts off; they include Wayang Klithik Wonosoco and Kretek.] From the list, Wayang Klithik Wonosoco and Kretek have already had their academic studies prepared. Wayang klithik falls under the category of performing arts, while kretek is classified as traditional knowledge. Teguh emphasised that kretek holds significant historical value for the people of Kudus. The city has long been known as Kudus the Kretek City, an identity that is a crucial part of the region’s city branding. “The branding of Kudus as the Kretek City needs to be elevated nationally. Kretek was born in Kudus, and this is part of the history and culture that must be preserved,” he explained. Currently, the Kudus Disbudpar is collecting and inputting data into the Basic Cultural Data System (Dapobud) as the initial administrative step in the process. In addition to the WBTb proposals, the Kudus Regency government is also protecting culture through the registration of Communal Intellectual Property (KIK), as an effort to safeguard the collective rights of the community over their cultural works. To date, Kudus Regency has seven National WBTb, namely: [Note: The original article lists seven items here, but the provided text cuts off.] The addition of these 13 new proposals is expected to further enrich Kudus’s cultural repertoire and solidify its position as one of the regions with the most comprehensive cultural wealth in Central Java.