RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Ministry of Culture has pledged its support for the 2026 National Music Day commemoration. The commitment was conveyed during an audience with the Persatuan Artis Penyanyi Pencipta Lagu dan Pemusik Republik Indonesia (PAPPRI) at the Ministry’s office in Jakarta, Monday, 23 February 2026.

The meeting discussed plans for the 2026 National Music Day, which will be held in several regions across Indonesia. The commemoration is designed to promote collaboration and strengthen national cultural development through music.

PAPPRI Secretary General Dwiki Darmawan stated that the organization has initiated National Music Day since February 27, 1986. He emphasized that the observance has been consistently maintained for more than two decades before being officially established through Presidential Decree No. 10 of 2013 and commemorated annually on March 9.

“National Music Day must continue to be safeguarded as a cultural milestone and as a beacon of hope for strengthening our national music. As a professional organization, we feel responsible for ensuring that this commemoration is not overlooked and remains aligned with national cultural policies,” Dwiki said.

This year, PAPPRI has designed a series of events aligned with the holy month of Ramadan. The main celebration on March 9 will take place at the State Building in Serang, Banten, involving PAPPRI regional chapters nationwide and featuring local religious-themed performances such as Terbang Gede, Genjring Zikir, Rudat, and Salawat.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon expressed his support for the initiative. “We fully endorse initiatives to revitalize and promote Indonesian music. National Music Day, observed every March 9, coincides with the birth anniversary of Wage Rudolf Supratman, the composer of Indonesia’s national anthem, ‘Indonesia Raya.’ We are open to collaboration and ready to support the planned agenda,” he said.

The Minister also welcomed plans for a follow-up celebration on 15 April at Taman Ismail Marzuki. He encouraged the inclusion of dangdut music in the celebration, in line with ongoing efforts to propose dangdut as an Intangible Cultural Heritage to UNESCO in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Persatuan Artis Musik Dangdut Indonesia (PAMDI).

Accompanying the Minister at the meeting were Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo and other senior officials. The Ministry of Culture reaffirmed its commitment, together with PAPPRI, to strengthen music as a cornerstone of national culture advancement and to ensure that National Music Day serves as a strategic moment to celebrate Indonesia’s diverse musical identity.