Profile of Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School, Host of the 35th NU Congress
The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has designated the Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren) in Jombang, East Java, as the venue for the 35th NU Congress (Muktamar). The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the PBNU Syuriyah and Tanfidziyah boards on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
Katib Syuriyah of the PBNU, Ahmad Tajul Mafakhir, said the choice of Tambakberas was based on historical, strategic and technical considerations. “Historically, Tambakberas is one of the epicentres of NU history,” he said when contacted on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
The Muktamar is the highest deliberative forum of Nahdlatul Ulama and is held every five years. It is a key moment for Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation. During the congress, all officials and representatives of the nahdliyin, from branch to central level, gather to evaluate the performance of the leadership, set the organisation’s direction and programmes, and elect a new leadership, including the Rais Aam and General Chairman of the PBNU.
After months of discussion over the venue and schedule, the PBNU has finally determined that the 35th Muktamar will be held on 27–30 August 2026 at the Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java.
Profile of Ponpes Tambakberas, Jombang
Pondok Pesantren Bahrul Ulum is one of the oldest boarding schools in East Java, located in Tambakberas, Tambakrejo Village, Jombang Regency. The origins of the pesantren, currently led by Chairman of the Council of Supervisors Moh Hasib Wahab Chasbullah, also known as Gus Hasib, date back to 1825.
Gus Hasib is a third-generation descendant of Abdul Wahab Chasbullah, one of the founders of the Tambakberas pesantren and a co-founder of Nahdlatul Ulama alongside KH Hasyim Asy’ari and other ulama on 31 January 1926.
According to research by Mokhamad Abdul Aziz published in 2014, the Tambakberas Pesantren was initially a traditional salafiyah boarding school using conventional teaching methods. It later transformed by developing a madrasah education system in 1966, coinciding with the establishment of the Bahrul Ulum Pesantren Foundation.
The foundation now oversees at least 18 educational institutions, ranging from early childhood education, Islamic primary schools (madrasah ibtidaiyah), junior and senior secondary schools, vocational schools, up to higher education. These include the Universitas KH Abdul Wahab Hasbullah (Unwaha), the Institut Agama Islam Bahrul Ulum (IAIBAFA) and STIKES Bahrul Ulum.
Management of the pesantren is currently divided into two leadership structures. Religious authority rests with the Council of Supervisors, led by KH Moh. Hasib Wahab Chasbullah, or Gus Hasib. Meanwhile, administrative, institutional and educational development matters fall under the Bahrul Ulum Pesantren Foundation, chaired by General Chairman KH Abdurrozaq Sholeh.
Each year, thousands of santri from across Indonesia study at the pesantren. It is also known for producing many national figures, one of whom was Indonesia’s fourth President, Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur. He is recorded as having studied at the pesantren from 1959 to 1963 before continuing his education at the Krapyak Islamic Boarding School in Yogyakarta.
Historically, Tambakberas is no stranger to hosting the Muktamar. During the 33rd NU Congress in Jombang in 2015, the pesantren complex served as one of the commission session venues alongside Pesantren Tebuireng, Darul Ulum Peterongan and Mamba’ul Ma’arif Denanyar. That experience was among the considerations behind the PBNU’s decision to once again choose the pesantren as the venue for the 35th Muktamar on 27–30 August 2026.