Merdeka Run Tickets Sell Out in Two Hours, Enthusiasm for 81st Independence Day Soars
Public enthusiasm for participating in the Merdeka Run 2026, part of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia celebrations, has been extraordinary. Tickets for the running event, scheduled for Saturday (29/8/2026), sold out within just two hours after official registration opened.
Registration for the Merdeka Run 2026 opened on Wednesday (12/8/2026) at 17.00 WIB. The high level of public interest demonstrates that running is increasingly becoming part of a lifestyle, as well as a choice for the public to celebrate the moment of independence.
Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia, Erick Thohir, expressed his appreciation for the public’s enthusiasm to participate in the Merdeka Run 2026. He assessed that the high level of interest reflects the strong public spirit for exercising while enlivening the 81st Independence Day celebrations.
‘Thank you to all Indonesian people who are so enthusiastic in welcoming the Merdeka Run. Tickets sold out in just two hours after registration opened. This shows the public’s extraordinary spirit for exercising while celebrating the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia,’ Erick said in a statement received on Wednesday (12/8/2026).
According to Erick, the Merdeka Run is not merely designed as a sporting activity. The 8-kilometre run, which starts from the Merdeka Palace area, is expected to become a space for the public to gather and celebrate independence in an atmosphere full of joy, togetherness, and unity.
‘Merdeka Run is not just about running. This is a moment for us to celebrate independence together with happiness, a spirit of togetherness, and unity. We want sport to become part of people’s lives as well as a space to strengthen brotherhood,’ Erick said.
In addition to sporting activities, the Merdeka Run 2026 event will also be enlivened with various entertainments. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are also involved to add colour while providing economic benefits for the attending public.
‘On 29 August, we want the Merdeka Run to be a celebration for the Indonesian people. It is not just about running, but also entertainment, MSMEs, interaction, and togetherness. We want sporting events like this to also have an economic impact so that the public and MSMEs can thrive,’ Erick said.
He explained that the involvement of the public and MSMEs in sporting events is part of an effort to build a sports ecosystem that provides broader benefits. Thus, sporting activities not only impact health and fitness but are also capable of creating economic turnover within the community.
‘Sport must provide a multiplier effect. The public becomes healthy, the public is happy, but the economy also moves. That is what we want to build through the Merdeka Run,’ he added.
The Merdeka Run 2026 is expected to become a momentum that unites the spirit of sport and nationalism. Through this activity, the government aims to present a celebration of independence that is not only lively but also encourages the public to make physical activity a part of their daily lives.