Surabaya Vaganza 2026 Boosts Economy and Tourism
Surabaya Vaganza 2026, held on the night of Saturday 16 May 2026, recorded a 12.5 percent increase in tourist visits and around a 4 percent rise in hotel occupancy, according to Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi. The annual event, organised by the Surabaya City Government to mark the 733rd anniversary of Surabaya (HJKS), has also contributed to higher business activity for local residents during the festival. “If tourism is active, the economy turns too; there are many guests at hotels and SMEs moving,” he said.
Eri described high community enthusiasm for Surabaya Vaganza as evidence that this cultural and tourism event can drive the city’s economy. The festival is one of 125 flagship programmes under Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026, from the Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) of Indonesia. This year the procession was presented more spectacularly with a Festival of Lights concept that blends flower-covered parade floats, artistic lighting, glowing costumes and a light show.
From the afternoon, thousands of residents and visitors crowded into central Surabaya to watch the parade. They filled pavements and strategic vantage points along the route from Tugu Pahlawan to Monumen Bambu Runcing.
Thirty-five participants joined the night parade. Dozens of decorated vehicles came from various communities, stakeholders, educational institutions and several regional government agencies within the Surabaya City Government. The procession travelled along Pahlawan Street, Tembaan Street, Tunjungan Street, Gubernur Suryo Street and finished at Panglima Sudirman Street or Monumen Bambu Runcing.
The night-time Surabaya Vaganza, the Mayor noted, differentiates it from previous years. The theme Festival of Lights: Garden of Hope was chosen to enhance the tourist appeal and convey a sense of unity within Surabaya. “This shows how beautiful the atmosphere in Surabaya is and how strong the sense of family is in the city,” he said.
This year’s theme is reflected in the abundance of artistic lighting at several strategic points along the route, offering a new visual experience for residents and visitors. “That is why this festival uses lights at night. It shows how different it is from the old events,” he added.
The inclusion of Surabaya Vaganza in Karisma Event Nusantara 2026 also demonstrates that Surabaya’s tourism sector continues to grow and can attract visitors from across the country. “Surabaya Vaganza and Rujak Uleg are included in Karisma Event Nusantara 2026. Thank you to the extraordinary residents of Surabaya. This shows that tourism in Surabaya is progressing,” he said.
Visitor enthusiasm this year exceeded the city government’s expectations. The Mayor said he witnessed many visitors from various regions such as Jember, Probolinggo, Semarang and even from beyond Java to watch the parade. “Extraordinary—beyond our expectations. I saw visitors from Jember, Probolinggo, Semarang, and even from outside Java,” he noted.
Not only domestic tourists were present; several international visitors were also seen enjoying the festivities of Surabaya Vaganza 2026. The development was viewed as a positive signal that the annual event in Surabaya is gaining wider recognition and international appeal.
“It wasn’t just Indonesians; there were many foreign tourists as well. Thanks to all the residents of Surabaya,” he added.
Surabaya Vaganza 2026: A World-Class Event
Reza Fahlevi, Assistant Deputy for Local Events at the Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar RI), gave high praise to the city government for initiating Surabaya Vaganza Festival of Lights 2026. The event is considered successful in delivering a creative concept and strengthening the city’s tourism appeal.
“From the Ministry of Tourism, we want to express our deepest appreciation to the Surabaya city government for organising this very impressive event, Surabaya Vaganza Festival of Lights 2026,” Reza said.
According to him, Surabaya Vaganza demonstrates the city’s commitment to advancing tourism through quality events that attract both locals and visitors from different regions. “This is a manifestation of the city’s commitment to developing tourism by hosting quality events,” he stated.
Reza noted that the selection of Surabaya Vaganza Festival of Lights as part of Karisma Event Nusantara 2026 signals that the event has undergone a rigorous curatorial process and is regarded as one of Indonesia’s best programmes. “We would like to congratulate the selection of Surabaya Vaganza 2026 Festival of Lights as a Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026,” he said.
Being part of KEN, he added, is recognition that Surabaya Vaganza possesses the quality of delivery capable of competing with other premier regional events nationwide. “This is evidence that the event has been curated from among the best events across Indonesia,” he said.
As such, Reza hopes Surabaya Vaganza can grow into a flagship or signature event for the City of Heroes that attracts visitors and reinforces Surabaya’s status as a creative city and tourism destination. “Finally, we hope that Surabaya Vaganza will continue to develop as a flagship or signature event for the City of Heroes,” he implied.