World Record Lontong Cap Go Meh at 2026 National Chinese New Year: Symbol of Harmony
The peak celebration of the 2026 National Chinese New Year Festival recorded an international achievement after the “Large Communal Meal with Bobon Santoso” event successfully obtained recognition from Guinness World Records.
The event was held at Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, and involved thousands of participants from various sectors of society.
The world record was achieved through the presentation of Lontong Cap Go Meh (a traditional Chinese-Indonesian rice cake dish) in large quantities that reflected a fusion of cultures and the culinary richness of the Indonesian archipelago. Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency Irene Umar welcomed the achievement as a tangible expression of creativity and inclusivity in the creative economy sector.
“This large communal meal event provided an opportunity for small and medium enterprises (UMSEs), content creators, and local communities to showcase innovation whilst preserving the culinary traditions that form part of Indonesia’s creative economy wealth,” said Deputy Minister Irene in an official statement released on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
She added that this year’s celebration held special significance because it coincided with the month of Ramadan. “Because Chinese New Year coincides with Ramadan, the dish of Lontong Cap Go Meh symbolises the culinary acculturation of Chinese traditions and Indonesian Ramadan customs,” she continued.
During the event, organisers presented a total of 5,054 servings of Lontong Cap Go Meh which was officially recorded as breaking the Guinness World Record in the category of Most Servings of Lontong Cap Go Meh Served in 8 Hours.
Public enthusiasm was evident from the attendance of thousands of visitors who participated in the event and enjoyed the meal together. Public participation was considered an important element in the success of the activity that showcased values of togetherness whilst preserving Cap Go Meh traditions.
“This large communal meal is not merely about enjoying food, but also represents a moment of sharing, interacting, and celebrating the richness of culinary traditions and Cap Go Meh heritage,” said Irene.
Through this event, traditional Indonesian cuisine was presented not simply as a culinary heritage, but also as a means of strengthening social unity and promoting growth of the national creative economy ecosystem.
The spirit of mutual aid and community collaboration evident during the event demonstrated that the development of the creative economy is rooted in cultural creativity and broad public participation.
President Prabowo Subianto expressed high appreciation for public enthusiasm. He affirmed that the convergence of Chinese New Year and Ramadan represented the true identity of the Indonesian nation.
“Indonesia is a great nation unafraid of differences. A great nation cherishes differences as a source of strength,” President Prabowo stated firmly in his remarks at the Peak Celebration of the 2026 National Chinese New Year Festival themed “Harmonious Chinese New Year of the Archipelago” held at Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, on Saturday, 28 February 2026.