RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The bustling atmosphere of Jakarta’s Car Free Day (CFD) was transformed into a cultural spectacle on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as the Ministry of Creative Economy hosted the Inspiration of Self Parade. The event served as a high-energy promotional roadshow for the upcoming Pagelaran Sabang Merauke, a massive performing arts production celebrated for its portrayal of Indonesian heritage.

Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, who attended the parade at the Bundaran HI area, described the weekly public gathering as a strategic space to bring high-caliber art directly to the people. By utilizing the inclusive environment of CFD, the ministry aims to build public anticipation for the main event scheduled for later this year.

“The Sabang to Merauke performance is a source of pride for us, making it worthy of being echoed throughout the world. This performing art exists only in Indonesia. Through the Inspiration of Self Parade at CFD, which showcases talents from the performing arts subsector, we can provide direct interaction to reach a wider audience,” Irene said amidst the festivities, as quoted on the Ministry's official website.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the unique cross-sectoral collaboration of the project, which merges music, fashion, and dance. She predicted high demand for the upcoming shows, urging the public to prepare for a ticket war to witness a production that symbolizes national unity through diversity.

“We just watched the road to Pagelaran Sabang Merauke, and the performance was this festive. Imagine what the actual show will be like because only Indonesia has this. Get ready for a ticket war to see the cross-sectoral creative economy collaboration that raises cultural diversity as a symbol of national unity,” Irene added.

The upcoming production, titled Hikayat Srikandi Nusantara, is set to take place from August 21 to 23, 2026, at the Indonesia Arena in Senayan. Since its inception in 2022, the show has become a staple of Indonesian modern theater, combining traditional and contemporary movements with national folk songs.

Singer Gabriel Harvianto, a veteran of the production, shared the technical challenges of preparing for a show that spans the linguistics of the entire archipelago. His repertoire this year includes songs from Aceh, Sumatra, Southeast Sulawesi, Jakarta, and Papua.

“Preparation so far is still in the stage of re-listening to the music and arrangements to continue memorizing the lyrics, because the lyrics are in regional languages that are a bit complicated and must be pronounced correctly. Especially this year, I will perform 'Bungong Jeumpa' from Aceh, 'Andalas' from Sumatra, 'Lulo' from Southeast Sulawesi, 'Ondel-Ondel' from Betawi, and 'Sajojo' from Papua,” Gabriel explained.

The parade featured nearly 200 dancers, a marching band, and performances by the Jakarta Concert Orchestra and the Batavia Madrigal Singers. Gabriel expressed his hope that such annual events would continue to provide a platform for Indonesian artists, from vocational students to senior professionals, to showcase their craft on a grand scale.

The Ministry of Creative Economy continues to emphasize the hexahelix collaboration model, involving government, industry, and the community, to ensure that local performing arts remain a robust pillar of the national economy. ***