Students from Government's 'Sekolah Rakyat' Shine at Jember Fashion Carnaval 2026

Students of Sekolah Rakyat took part in brightening the prestigious annual Jember Fashion Carnaval (JFC) 2026 in Jember, East Java, held from 24 to 26 July 2026. Through the internationally recognised event, the students learnt about perseverance, honed their creativity and self-confidence, and developed a love of nature.

Amid the festivities, the performance of a dozen students from Sekolah Rakyat Jember captured widespread attention. Fifteen students appeared confidently in two JFC 2026 sessions: the World Kid Pets and the Grand Carnival.

“The Ministry of Social Affairs is proud of the creativity of the Sekolah Rakyat students at JFC 2026, because they dared to showcase costumes designed and crafted by their own hands, made entirely from scratch,” said Fajar WH, Expert Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs, in a written statement on Sunday (26 July 2026).

He described the event as a crucial moment to demonstrate to the public that Sekolah Rakyat can nurture a generation that is innovative, confident, and capable of producing works ready to compete internationally. Their participation, he hoped, would continue to motivate the students to dream bigger and express their fullest potential without limits.

“The behind-the-scenes process of making these costumes required tremendous effort and extra precision. The headpieces alone took nearly a month to complete, before work continued on the garments, wings, and various supporting accessories. Remarkably, most of the materials used were recycled,” he revealed.

Meanwhile, the Head of Sekolah Rakyat Jember, Kartika Sari Dewi, said the students were actively involved from the planning and design stages through to the final touches.

“This is our first time participating in JFC, so it was very challenging. The long process proved an invaluable experience for the students. It not only trained their creativity but also taught teamwork and a sense of responsibility,” Kartika said.

Halimah Caraisa Humayroh, a Sekolah Rakyat student who portrayed ‘Concience’ at JFC 2026, said the school’s JFC team spent four months, from March to July, preparing for the defile.

The team’s concept was divided into four parts: Concience, Noise, Roots, and Riberth. Their looks adapted accordingly, ranging from gladiator warriors and emotional expression costumes to a Minang traditional house. She said she was proud to take part in JFC.

“I am delighted to join this world-class event. I gained learning experience in how to make unique garments, along with patience,” she said.

A fellow student, Sava Aurotun Nisa, who portrayed Roots, expressed similar sentiments. She said she was happy to participate in the prestigious event, as she might never have had the chance to perform had she not joined Sekolah Rakyat.

“I am happy because it is a rare opportunity,” she said.

In its 24th year, JFC 2026 served not only as a grand stage for young talent but also as a strategic instrument for driving the local economy and alleviating poverty.

Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana acknowledged this in her speech at the JFC 2026 grand finale. She therefore thanked the Jember Regency Government and all parties for sustaining JFC over two decades as a carnival event that Indonesia can be proud of.

“What passes before us today is not merely stunning costumes, but the story of Indonesia, its cultural heritage, and a national identity translated into world-class works,” she said.

JFC President Budi Setiawan added that the event serves as a space for the younger generation to discover their identity. “The beauty we present today must not stop as a spectacle; creativity also carries with it a sense of responsibility,” he explained.

The grandeur of JFC 2026 began to unfold as the red carpet was rolled out at Pendapa Wahyawibawagraha to open the event on Friday (24 July 2026). National artists, public figures, and guests of honour packed the JFC Red Carpet — a new innovation presented for the first time in the history of the event founded by the late designer Dynand Fariz.

This year’s edition involved more than 1,500 talents from across the regions and abroad, and was attended by notable figures including singer Krisdayanti, Andien, senior actress Christine Hakim, 12 Puteri Indonesia finalists, and social media influencers such as Hanum Mega.

JFC as a Driver of the Economy and Poverty Alleviation

Beyond the stage lights and the beauty of the costumes, the Regent of Jember, familiarly known as Gus Fawait, affirmed that JFC carries a fundamental social and economic mission. According to him, the Jember Regency Government evaluates each edition of the event to ensure it produces a multiplier effect for the hotel industry, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and the informal sector.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), around 8,000 Jember residents rose above the poverty line last year. Gus Fawait is optimistic that the target of reducing the number of poor residents to below 200,000 can be achieved.

“JFC is a regional product with national and international standing. If Brazil has its carnival, Indonesia has the Jember Fashion Carnaval, created by the late Dynand Fariz. He was a village boy, yet he created an event of national and international scale,” he said.

Gus Fawait further explained that in early 2026, Jember recorded the highest economic growth in the Tapal Kuda region, which he believes is inseparable from the contribution of the tourism sector.

“The economic benefits are extraordinary, and this is what the President instructed: that the Jember Regency Government delivers all of this through JFC. The impact on informal workers and MSMEs is real. This is a manifestation of what the President asked for,” he said.

JFC 2026 adopted the theme HEAL (Humanity, Earth, and Life), reflecting the importance of restoring the relationship between humanity, nature, and life. The main mission of JFC 2026 was to present works that are not only visually spectacular but also encourage society to reflect on the importance of human values, environmental protection, and the care of life through the language of art and fashion.

“At this event, visitors were treated to a series of shows with different sub-themes, from the WKC X Pets Carnival, Wonderful Archipelago Carnival Indonesia (WACI), Artwear Carnival, through to the Grand Carnival as the grand finale,” he concluded.

Those in attendance at JFC 2026 included Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto, Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Dardak, members of the House of Representatives Charles Meikyansah, M Khozin, Nur Purnamasidi, and Arvin Hakim Toha, the Consul General of Japan, as well as invited guests and thousands of members of the public from across Indonesia and abroad.