Minister of Culture Backs World Puppet Day 2026 Celebrations Following Meeting with UNIMA
Indonesia's Minister of Culture Fadli Zon received a delegation from the Union Internationale de la Marionnette d'Indonésie (UNIMA) to discuss plans for the 2026 World Puppet Day commemoration, set to take place from 24 to 26 April in Yogyakarta.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Culture offices in Jakarta on Saturday (21 February), Fadli expressed his appreciation for the initiative, which he deemed vital for the sustainability of Indonesian puppet arts.
"I welcome this initiative, as efforts to preserve Indonesian wayang are our shared duty and responsibility," Fadli said in a written statement on Sunday (22 February 2026).
UNIMA President Dimas Samodra Rum outlined the programme of events, which will feature a wide range of puppet art expressions — from classical wayang performances and rare, endangered puppet forms to contemporary and experimental works.
Beyond the artistic performances, the programme will also include cultural seminars, artist networking sessions, cultural exhibitions, and the involvement of tradition-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In response, Fadli noted that wayang encompasses a diverse array of forms that must be collectively safeguarded and preserved.
"The variety of wayang is extraordinary and has been so since ancient times — classical wayang including Wayang Wahyu, Wayang Sukha, Wayang Krucil, and many other forms," Fadli said.
The event forms part of UNIMA's global network initiative to mark World Puppet Day each year. The timing of the Indonesian celebration has been adjusted to ensure broader public participation.
Wayang was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. This recognition affirms wayang's universal value as a knowledge system, artistic expression, and reflection of living cultural wisdom within society.
Closing the meeting, Fadli declared the government's support for the event and reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to advancing puppet arts. The Ministry of Culture welcomed the 2026 World Puppet Day commemoration and pledged to continue strengthening the preservation and development of puppet arts through policy, facilitation, and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Efforts to preserve wayang extend beyond ceremonial commemorations to include strengthening the puppet arts ecosystem on a sustainable basis — from generational renewal to support for communities and studios across the country.
Such preservation is essential to ensure wayang remains relevant to modern developments without losing its intrinsic values. Wayang is not merely maintained as a heritage of the past but continues to be kept alive as a meaningful cultural practice for future generations.
Fadli was accompanied at the meeting by the Minister's Expert Staff for Inter-Institutional Relations, Ismunandar, and Director of Cultural Heritage I Made Dharma Sutedja.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Culture offices in Jakarta on Saturday (21 February), Fadli expressed his appreciation for the initiative, which he deemed vital for the sustainability of Indonesian puppet arts.
"I welcome this initiative, as efforts to preserve Indonesian wayang are our shared duty and responsibility," Fadli said in a written statement on Sunday (22 February 2026).
UNIMA President Dimas Samodra Rum outlined the programme of events, which will feature a wide range of puppet art expressions — from classical wayang performances and rare, endangered puppet forms to contemporary and experimental works.
Beyond the artistic performances, the programme will also include cultural seminars, artist networking sessions, cultural exhibitions, and the involvement of tradition-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In response, Fadli noted that wayang encompasses a diverse array of forms that must be collectively safeguarded and preserved.
"The variety of wayang is extraordinary and has been so since ancient times — classical wayang including Wayang Wahyu, Wayang Sukha, Wayang Krucil, and many other forms," Fadli said.
The event forms part of UNIMA's global network initiative to mark World Puppet Day each year. The timing of the Indonesian celebration has been adjusted to ensure broader public participation.
Wayang was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. This recognition affirms wayang's universal value as a knowledge system, artistic expression, and reflection of living cultural wisdom within society.
Closing the meeting, Fadli declared the government's support for the event and reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to advancing puppet arts. The Ministry of Culture welcomed the 2026 World Puppet Day commemoration and pledged to continue strengthening the preservation and development of puppet arts through policy, facilitation, and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Efforts to preserve wayang extend beyond ceremonial commemorations to include strengthening the puppet arts ecosystem on a sustainable basis — from generational renewal to support for communities and studios across the country.
Such preservation is essential to ensure wayang remains relevant to modern developments without losing its intrinsic values. Wayang is not merely maintained as a heritage of the past but continues to be kept alive as a meaningful cultural practice for future generations.
Fadli was accompanied at the meeting by the Minister's Expert Staff for Inter-Institutional Relations, Ismunandar, and Director of Cultural Heritage I Made Dharma Sutedja.