NU Congress Scheduled for 1-5 August, Location Yet to Be Determined

The National Deliberation of Religious Scholars (Munas) and the Grand Conference (Konbes) of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) have announced that the 35th NU Congress will be held from 1 to 5 August 2026. Secretary of the Munas-Konbes NU Steering Committee, Mohammad Nuh, stated that the congress will commence with the Munas-Konbes activities. “The Munas and Konbes are part of a series leading to the Congress, which, God willing, will be held from 1 to 5 August 2026,” he said during a press conference following the Plenary Session III of the 2026 NU Munas-Konbes at Al-Falah Ploso Islamic boarding school in Kediri on Monday. However, he noted that the location for the congress has not yet been selected. According to Nuh, the venue will be decided after reviewing regions that have volunteered to host the event. He explained that several regions have officially submitted bids to host the 35th NU Congress, including West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, West Java, Jakarta, and West Sumatra. The NU Executive Board (PBNU) will soon form a special team to inspect and assess the feasibility of holding the congress in these areas. “We will immediately form a team to review those locations,” said Nuh, who is also a former Minister of Education. Nuh revealed four main aspects being considered in determining the congress location. First, the adequacy of facilities and infrastructure required to support the organisation’s largest forum. Second, security; the congress must be held in a location that guarantees participant safety and ensures orderly proceedings. “Because this concerns the congress, security must be assured. Unauthorised or ineligible individuals must not be allowed into the rooms,” he clarified. The third consideration is the host region’s financial readiness, while the fourth is the spiritual aspect, which has long been a hallmark of important decision-making within NU. “At NU, the final outcome always involves spiritual consideration,” he said. He cited the selection of Al-Falah Ploso Islamic boarding school for the 2026 Munas-Konbes, which also underwent physical and spiritual reviews. “Finally, its spiritual suitability was assessed. The same method will be applied for the Congress,” he added. Nuh further stated that the theme for the 35th Congress will align with the 2026 Munas-Konbes theme: ‘Upholding Dignity, Enriching Service for the Nation’s Welfare’. The organisation hopes the upcoming congress will be a pivotal moment marking the beginning of NU’s second century while strengthening its role in providing broader benefits for the community, the nation, and humanity.