National Quran Recitation Competition 2026: Logo, Theme, and Mascot Unveiled

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has released the logo, theme, and mascot for the 31st National Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ). The 2026 National MTQ will be held in Semarang from 11 to 20 September 2026, under the theme ‘Spreading the Light of the Qur’an in Harmony Towards a Just Golden Indonesia’. The logo and mascot for the XXXI National MTQ were the results of an open competition.

The 2026 National MTQ logo features a white and green gunungan wayang shape incorporating iconic symbols of Semarang City. Meanwhile, the mascot for the XXXI National MTQ has been named Sahabat Qur’an (Saqur).

The General Chairperson of the Central Java Tilawatil Quran Development Institute (LPTQ), Yasin Maimoen, stated that the MTQ logo highlights distinctive cultural elements of Central Java and Semarang City as symbols of regional culture and pride. The logo represents the cultural values, diversity, and harmony that characterise Central Java.

The mascot, introduced as Saqur or Sahabat Quran, depicts the spirit of a young generation close to the Qur’an. This mascot represents a young Indonesian generation that is religious, intelligent, creative, spirited, and possesses noble character.

The 2026 National MTQ event will take place from 11 to 20 September 2026. The schedule is as follows: 11-12 September 2026 for the arrival and registration of contingents; 12 September 2026 for the opening of the National MTQ at Lapangan Pancasila Simpang Lima Semarang, preceded by a ta’aruf parade and ta’aruf night; 13-19 September 2026 for the competitions and a featured products exhibition; and 19-20 September 2026 for the closing ceremony.

As the host, the Central Java Provincial Government has prepared various support services for participants, ranging from the pick-up and drop-off of contingents, operational vehicles, the ta’aruf parade, and ta’aruf night, to the provision of competition facilities and infrastructure.

In addition to the musabaqah, the series of events will be enlivened by a Featured Products Expo and Exhibition lasting nine days, involving all provinces, ministries, district/city governments, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD), and philanthropic institutions. The exhibition will showcase Islamic economy products, Islamic calligraphy, and a halal culinary festival as part of efforts to strengthen the sustainable tourism sector and Islamic economy in Central Java.

Various other supporting activities have also been prepared, including a national tambourine competition, a halal tour exhibition, Islamic fashion shows, the Batik Nusantara Award, a job fair, a national seminar on religious moderation and the Islamic economy in the digital era, and religious and heritage tourism programmes for the contingents.