Kenduri Seni Melayu 2026 Strengthens Batam as an International Tourist Gateway

RRI.CO.ID , Batam – Kenduri Seni Melayu (KSM) 2026 has once again reaffirmed its position as one of Indonesia's premier cultural events after being selected as part of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026, the Ministry of Tourism's flagship national event program. This recognition further reinforces Batam's role as a cultural tourism destination capable of attracting both domestic and international visitors.

Carrying the theme "Sowing the Seeds of Culture, Harvesting the Splendor of Civilization," Kenduri Seni Melayu 2026 will take place from 2–5 July 2026 at Dataran Engku Putri, Batam Centre. As Batam's largest regional cultural event, the festival will showcase traditional Malay performing arts, folk games, creative economy exhibitions, traditional culinary delights, and collaborative performances by artists from across Indonesia and neighboring Malay countries.

In a press release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Hafiz Agung Rifai, Deputy for Event Development at the Ministry of Tourism, said that Kenduri Seni Melayu demonstrates how culture can serve as a powerful driver of quality and sustainable tourism development.

According to him, as part of Karisma Event Nusantara 2026, Kenduri Seni Melayu not only preserves the rich heritage of Malay culture, but also strengthens Batam's position as an international gateway, encourages visitors to extend their stay, and creates economic opportunities for local communities and creative economy practitioners.

This year's festival will feature an international cultural collaboration with renowned performers, including Roslan Madun of Malaysia, widely known for his hit song Lemak Manis; Indonesia's celebrated performing arts maestro Didik Nini Thowok; the Yayasan Pelatihan Tari Laksamana Pekanbaru; Kris Karmila from Brunei Darussalam; artists from Thailand; as well as numerous cultural communities, poets, musicians, and traditional art groups from the Riau Islands.

In addition to cultural performances, visitors will be able to enjoy MSME bazaars, creative economy exhibitions, traditional games, and a wide variety of authentic Malay cuisine throughout the four-day celebration.

First launched in 1999, Kenduri Seni Melayu has grown into one of Batam's longest-running and most consistent cultural festivals. Beyond serving as a platform for artistic expression, the festival has become an important vehicle for cultural diplomacy, promoting the identity of Malay culture while strengthening Batam's image as a leading Malay cultural destination in the region.

Through the spirit of collaboration, cultural preservation, and heritage promotion, Kenduri Seni Melayu 2026 is expected to once again serve as a gathering place for Malay communities across the region, reinforce the living legacy of Malay culture, and contribute to the sustainable growth of tourism and the creative economy in Batam.