Ministry of Religious Affairs Reveals Reason Why Isbat Session for Start of Fasting Is Held at Hotel
The government is this year holding the isbat session to determine 1 Ramadan 2026, or 1447 Hijriah, at Hotel Borobudur in Central Jakarta. The government has revealed the reason behind the change of venue.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), through its Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication, stated that the session was originally to be held at the Haji Mohammad Rasjidi Auditorium at the Kemenag office in Thamrin, Central Jakarta. However, it was subsequently relocated to Hotel Borobudur.
The Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication explained that the isbat session was moved to Hotel Borobudur Jakarta to accommodate room capacity requirements. This, it said, was in accordance with a letter from the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs at the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, Kemenag.
"In accordance with the letter from the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs at the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, Kemenag, to adjust for room capacity, the isbat session for the beginning of Ramadan 1447 H/2026 M has been relocated from the H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium, Kemenag Building on Jl. MH Thamrin, to Hotel Borobudur, Central Jakarta," wrote the Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication on Tuesday (17/2/2026).
The session agenda is scheduled to begin at 16:30 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), starting with a seminar on the position of the hilal (new crescent moon). The isbat session itself will then be conducted at 18:30 WIB.
The government will subsequently announce the results of the isbat session through a press conference. The outcome is expected to be announced at 19:05 WIB.
Hilal observation will be carried out at various locations across Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua, involving regional teams and volunteer hilal observers.
To supplement hisab (astronomical calculation) data, Kemenag is conducting hilal observation (rukyatul hilal) at 96 locations spread throughout Indonesia. These observations are being carried out by Kemenag provincial offices and district/city Kemenag offices, in cooperation with Religious Courts, Islamic organisations, and other relevant agencies.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), through its Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication, stated that the session was originally to be held at the Haji Mohammad Rasjidi Auditorium at the Kemenag office in Thamrin, Central Jakarta. However, it was subsequently relocated to Hotel Borobudur.
The Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication explained that the isbat session was moved to Hotel Borobudur Jakarta to accommodate room capacity requirements. This, it said, was in accordance with a letter from the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs at the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, Kemenag.
"In accordance with the letter from the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs at the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, Kemenag, to adjust for room capacity, the isbat session for the beginning of Ramadan 1447 H/2026 M has been relocated from the H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium, Kemenag Building on Jl. MH Thamrin, to Hotel Borobudur, Central Jakarta," wrote the Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication on Tuesday (17/2/2026).
The session agenda is scheduled to begin at 16:30 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), starting with a seminar on the position of the hilal (new crescent moon). The isbat session itself will then be conducted at 18:30 WIB.
The government will subsequently announce the results of the isbat session through a press conference. The outcome is expected to be announced at 19:05 WIB.
Hilal observation will be carried out at various locations across Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua, involving regional teams and volunteer hilal observers.
To supplement hisab (astronomical calculation) data, Kemenag is conducting hilal observation (rukyatul hilal) at 96 locations spread throughout Indonesia. These observations are being carried out by Kemenag provincial offices and district/city Kemenag offices, in cooperation with Religious Courts, Islamic organisations, and other relevant agencies.