Isen Mulang Festival 2026 Celebrates Dayak Heritage in Central Kalimantan

RRI.CO.ID, Palangka Raya - The streets of Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan erupted into a vibrant showcase of indigenous heritage on Sunday morning, May 17, 2026, as the highly anticipated Isen Mulang Cultural Festival (FBIM) 2026 officially commenced. Celebrating the 69th anniversary of Central Kalimantan Province, the annual festival serves as a platform for preserving Dayak cultural traditions and promoting regional tourism.

The festival’s national significance has grown substantially, earning its spot as a featured event in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026, a curated national calendar of prestige events backed by the Ministry of Tourism.

"The Isen Mulang Cultural Festival is increasingly gaining a place and recognition, including at the national level, as one of the agendas of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026," said Central Kalimantan Governor Agustiar Sabran, as quoted by Antara.

Opening the week-long festivities alongside the launch of the Kalteng Expo at the newly revitalized Bundaran Besar (Great Roundabout) in Palangka Raya, Governor Sabran emphasized that cultural preservation must go hand in hand with economic progress. He reiterated that the provincial administration is continuously accelerating the development of arts and tourism to uplift local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Acting Regional Secretary of Central Kalimantan, Linae Victoria Aden, echoed this sentiment, framing the festival as a concrete economic driver. "Also driving regional economic growth through the involvement of MSME actors and the creative economy," Linae explained.

She further noted that the festival serves as a unifying force, embodying the region's traditional huma betang (Longhouse) philosophy, where diverse ethnic groups and artistic backgrounds coexist in complete harmony.

Running until May 23, 2026, the festival boasts an extensive lineup of traditional games, fierce sports competitions, and cultural pageantry. To ensure high accessibility for the public, the events are scattered across strategic city landmarks, including the Indoor Multipurpose Sports Hall (GOR), the Kahayan Bridge waterfront, Tuah Pahoe Stadium, and the provincial Culture and Tourism Agency grounds.

The week's programming features highly specialized Dayak customs and cultural competitions, kicking off with the Cultural Carnival, a massive street parade showcasing traditional attire and regional folklore. The festival also hosts Jagau & Nyai Kalteng, a prestigious cultural pageant dedicated to crowning the province's youth ambassadors.

Attendees can witness traditional athletics through manyipet (blowpipe competitions) and habayang (traditional spinning top games). Furthermore, indigenous crafts and customs are spotlighted through manjawet uwei, which demonstrates traditional rattan weaving skills, and sepak sawut, a striking traditional soccer match played using a burning coconut. ***