Thousands of Buddhist Devotees Expected to Flood Borobudur for Waisak 2026

Tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees from various regions are expected to fill the Borobudur Temple area to celebrate the Tri Suci Waisak 2570 BE/2026 at the end of May. The high enthusiasm of participants is predicted to make this year’s celebration one of the largest in recent years.

Chairman of the Central Java Representative Council of Indonesian Buddhist Community (Walubi), Tanto Soegito Harsono, stated that by mid-May 2026, the number of registered participants had reached around 23,000 people from various regions in Indonesia.

“Participants come from Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, NTB, Jakarta, Banten, and the most from Central Java,” said Tanto in Semarang on Thursday (14/5), quoting Antara.

That number is expected to continue increasing, especially ahead of the lantern release night, which is one of the most anticipated events in the Waisak series.

“Usually on the day itself, many more come directly. During the lantern release, it could increase by nearly 10,000 people,” he said.

A surge in visitors is already being felt in the Borobudur area and surroundings. Hotel occupancy rates, homestays, and local accommodations are reported to be nearly full well in advance.

According to Tanto, the economic impact of the Waisak celebration is also felt by the local community, particularly tourism and culinary business operators.

“The impact is certainly significant for the community, from hotels, homestays, food stalls, restaurants—everything will be bustling ahead of Waisak,” he said.

The long holiday period at the end of May 2026 is also cited as a factor driving the higher number of visitors this year compared to previous celebrations.

One of the highlights of Waisak 2026 is the journey of the Thudong Bhikkhus, who are walking approximately 660 kilometres from Bali to Borobudur.

Deputy Chairman of the National Waisak Committee 2026, Karuna Murdaya, said that 60 bhikkhus are participating in the spiritual journey, consisting of 50 foreign bhikkhus and 10 local ones.

“This year, there are 60 bhikkhus participating, consisting of 50 foreign and 10 local,” she said.

The peak of the Waisak celebration will take place on 31 May 2026. This year, the exact moment of Waisak falls in the afternoon at precisely 3:44 PM WIB, so the event schedule has been adjusted compared to previous years.

The procession begins in the morning from Mendut Temple to Borobudur. After the Waisak moment in the afternoon, the event continues with the release of peace lanterns in two sessions starting at 6:30 PM WIB, followed by a sendratari dance performance in the evening.

Meanwhile, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has affirmed the provincial government’s full support for the organisation of the National Waisak 2026.

According to Luthfi, Waisak is not merely a spiritual celebration for Buddhists but also a symbol of tolerance, unity, and religious moderation in Indonesia.

The Central Java Provincial Government, he said, supports all series of activities, from health social services, spiritual rituals, to the peak Waisak procession at Borobudur.

Luthfi also assured that he will attend the Waisak celebration series at Borobudur.