The 35th NU Congress and the Path of Indonesian Civilization in 2045

By: Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar MA Ph.D., Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The largest Islamic organisation in Indonesia, NU (Nahdlatul Ulama), is currently preparing for its 35th Congress, which will be held in August 2026.

The NU Congress, as the highest forum of the organisation, has always attracted public attention. This event is not just a routine five-year agenda for selecting the new leadership of the PBNU (Central Executive Board), but behind the scenes, there is a significant dynamic that influences the direction of the nation.

Since its establishment in 1926, NU has not only been a religious organisation but also a socio-religious institution that has shaped the landscape of modern Indonesian nationalism.

Many studies have identified NU as the largest civil society in Indonesia, possessing a unique ability to combine Islamic traditions, nationalism, local culture, and social stability in one breath.

From an academic perspective, NU is often understood not only as a religious organisation (jam’iyah diniyyah) but also as a sociological force.

Researchers such as Greg Barton, Martin van Bruinessen, and Robert W. Hefner see NU as one of the important pillars of Indonesian democracy and a model of moderate Islam in the world.

In works on Indonesian Islam, NU is considered to have successfully maintained a balance between Islamic traditions and political modernity.

Therefore, the 35th NU Congress cannot be seen merely as a forum for organisational leadership transitions. It is an arena for determining the direction of the civilisation of the community and the nation towards ‘Golden Indonesia 2045’.

In modern organisational theory, large institutions are tested not when facing external opponents, but when confronted with internal fragmentation. This is the point at which NU is being tested today.