RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture commemorated International Museum Day 2026 by holding a Cultural Oration at the Museum Nasional Indonesia Jakarta on Monday, May 18, 2026. This year’s celebration carried the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World,” highlighting the role of museums in bridging diversity within society.

The event was attended by Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, ministry officials, museum leaders, academics, and cultural communities. The commemoration also served as part of the government’s effort to strengthen Indonesia’s museum ecosystem in the digital era.

In his remarks, Fadli Zon, invited all stakeholders to work together in strengthening museums as an essential pillar for Indonesia’s future. He emphasized that museums are not only spaces for preserving historical artifacts, but also centers for education and national identity.

“On this International Museum Day, I invite all relevant stakeholders, government institutions, museum leaders, curators, conservators, educators, communities, universities, the private sector, the media, and especially the younger generation, to work together in making museums a stronger pillar for Indonesia’s future,” Fadli Zon said.

He also stressed the importance of building museums that are capable of adapting to technological developments and modern public needs. According to him, museums must remain rooted in knowledge while becoming more accessible to society.

“Let us strengthen museums that are intellectually vibrant, digitally adaptive, rooted in knowledge and open to the public, as well as museums that drive the cultural economy as spaces of Indonesian civilization,” he stated.

Furthermore, Fadli Zon, noted that Indonesia currently has 516 registered museums nationwide. The government expects both the quality and quantity of museums to continue improving in the coming years.

The Ministry of Culture is also encouraging greater youth engagement through several initiatives, including the Museum Passport program. The initiative is expected to increase public interest in visiting museums and cultural heritage sites as spaces for learning and cultural preservation.