National Education Day on 2 May 2026: Is It a Holiday? Check the Regulations
National Education Day (Hardiknas) is commemorated every 2 May and will be celebrated again in 2026. This day was established as a tribute to the figure of the Father of Indonesian Education, Ki Hadjar Dewantara.
As one of the national holidays, is the Hardiknas commemoration designated as a national holiday, and is 2 May 2026 a red-letter day? Here is the complete information based on the applicable regulations.
National Education Day Is Not a Holiday
The government designates 2 May as National Education Day based on Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 316 of 1959 on National Days That Are Not Holidays. The regulation states that Hardiknas is not a holiday.
Here is the wording of the decree:
DECIDES:
To establish: Presidential Decree on the amendment to Presidential Decree No. 316 of 1959 on National Days that are not holidays.
Article I.
Article 1 point 1 of Presidential Decree No. 316 of 1959 on National Days that are not holidays is amended to read as follows:
“1. National Education Day on 2 May”.
Article II.
This decree shall come into force on the date of its enactment.
Although the National Education Day commemoration is not a holiday, this year the date falls on a weekend holiday, namely Saturday, 2 May 2026. Thus, the public can celebrate it during the weekend holiday.
Background to the Designation of 2 May as Hardiknas
The designation of 2 May as National Education Day refers to the birth date of Ki Hadjar Dewantara, a pioneer of national education who was born on 2 May 1889. The government designated that date as a tribute to his services and struggles in advocating for the right to education for all Indonesian people.
Referring to the official website of the Ministry of Education, the Hardiknas commemoration also serves as a momentum to reaffirm the spirit of enlightening the nation’s life, while reflecting on the importance of education in building superior, characterful, and competitive future generations.
List of Holidays and Collective Leave in May 2026
The list of red-letter days designated as national holidays and collective leave falling in May 2026 according to the Joint Ministerial Decree of 3 Ministers is as follows:
National Holidays
Friday, 1 May 2026: International Labour Day
Thursday, 14 May 2026: Ascension of Jesus Christ
Wednesday, 27 May 2026: Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah
Sunday, 31 May 2026: Vesak Day 2570 BE
Collective Leave
Friday, 15 May 2026: Ascension of Jesus Christ
Thursday, 28 May 2026: Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah
This is the information regarding National Education Day on 2 May 2026, which is not included as a national holiday or collective leave. Considering that the celebration falls on a Saturday, the public can still commemorate it during the weekend holiday.