Tarakan’s Iraw Tengkayu Festival Enters Elite KEN 2026 List

RRI.CO.ID, Tarakan - The mass participation of more than 4,000 residents across community groups was key to the Iraw Tengkayu XV Festival in Tarakan, North Kalimantan. This strong community support successfully secured the event a spot on the Ministry of Tourism’s elite Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026 calendar.

From large cultural parades to performances by hundreds of students, this inclusivity and active community engagement met the ministry’s strict standards for nationally significant community-based tourism attractions.

“So, the first requirement is consistent annual implementation, that schedule must be announced,” said Tarakan Mayor, Khairul, at the Ratu Intan tourism area, Pantai Amal, following the Padaw Tuju Dulung lowering ritual on Sunday, 6 July 2026.

He explained the second requirement for inclusion in the Kharisma Event Nusantara calendar concerns the event’s content, that it must meet specific quality criteria.

The mayor noted that while many tourism events occur each year, their content often falls short. By contrast, the content offered here has real potential to attract visitors.

Khairul emphasized that despite budget-efficiency policies, the Iraw Tengkayu Festival will be maintained as an effort to preserve local culture and regional tourism. He said the budget for Iraw Tengkayu XV in 2026 is about IDR 1 billion (USD 55,558).

The Iraw Tengkayu XV Festival has been officially moved to July from its usual October slot. The change followed an evaluation that showed scheduling conflicts with similar festivals in other North Kalimantan regencies.

“From our experience last year, almost all regencies held similar events in the same month, October. It became complicated, that if we invited them and they couldn’t come, it was awkward, if we went, we had scheduling conflicts,” said Khairul, as quoted by Antara.

He recounted that some officials attended each other’s events, some sent deputy mayors, and some could not participate at all because dates coincided. The city then consulted with customary leaders about advancing the festival, they agreed it could be held earlier so long as the procession remained unchanged.

The highlight of Iraw Tengkayu XV was the lowering ritual of the Padaw Tuju Dulung, the traditional boat of the Tidung Pesisir people. A replica house containing offerings placed inside the boat was set adrift at sea.

Mass dances also enlivened Iraw Tengkayu, involving hundreds of students and university participants. Free booths were provided for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to showcase their products.

Participants came from schools, regional administration agencies (OPD), community associations, social organizations, and uniformed services including the military and police, contributing to the festival’s vibrancy.

The mayor expressed appreciation to invited guests and to the crowds who filled the event site with enthusiasm to witness the cultural procession. He expressed hope that Tarakan would continue to receive blessings, security, progress, and prosperity for all its people. ***