Top 10 Candidates Announced for DPD RI Awards 2026 Regional Culture Preservers Category
The committee has selected 10 candidates for the 2026 DPD RI Awards under the Regional Culture Preservers category. These candidates have demonstrated innovation in the development and preservation of regional culture.
In this category, the award will be presented to individuals who strive to promote regional culture at both national and international levels. The candidates represent various regions across Indonesia.
“The award is given to individuals who possess innovation in the development and preservation of regional culture and play an active role in promoting regional culture nationally and internationally,” stated the DPD on its official website, as reported on Friday (25/09/2026).
Here are the names of the 10 candidates for Regional Culture Preservers, listed in alphabetical order:
Alfonsa Raga Horeng
Anitawati
Cletus Beru
Endang Dzunuraini
Juwandi
Leni Febrianti
Maulana Muhammad Syuhada
Mugiyono Kasido
Muhammad Ridwan Alimuddin
Poltak Tambunan
Chairman of the DPD Ensures No Interference
The Chairman of the DPD RI, Sultan B. Najamudin, has ensured that the DPD RI Awards process remains free from interference. The Chairman noted that many figures in the regions have yet to receive due recognition.
“We are doing this because there are so many aspirations coming in, and so much potential from local heroes and local champions that have not yet been on the radar,” Sultan said during the 2025 DPD RI Awards event.
Sultan stated that the event is organised to identify regional heroes who have previously gone unnoticed. He mentioned that the initiative also reflects the aspirations of people in the regions.
“We, the 152 members of the DPD, represent nearly 80 million people from the regions who have entrusted us with this mandate. Therefore, through the DPD Awards, we want to scout and discover much of the untapped potential, the local heroes and local champions—people in the regions who contribute significantly to regional progress in their respective fields but have not been monitored,” he explained.
Sultan ensured that the leadership of the DPD RI cannot interfere with the selection of the award winners. He noted that the Expert Board involved is both capable and independent.
“We will see the categories later, because we are not allowed to intervene. There are fields such as tourism, culture, women and children, education, and social issues, among others. We involve judges who are capable, independent, and transparent. Even the leadership cannot interfere; even at this very moment, I do not know who the winners will be,” he said.