RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta -  The government will hold its inaugural Chinese New Year Festival, embracing the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), embracing inclusivity, diversity, and interfaith harmony.

"The 2026 Chinese New Year Festival is a national celebration that presents Chinese New Year as a shared responsibility. Coinciding with Ramadan, this momentum reflects an Indonesia that is harmonious, inclusive, and respectful of diversity," said Irene Umar, Chairperson of the National Chinese New Year Committee, at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The celebration also reflects the Red and White Cabinet's efforts, led by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, to strengthen national unity and harmony in social life.

The inaugural festival will take place from February 17 to March 3, 2026, at Lapangan Banteng in Jakarta and will feature the tagline "Harmoni Nusantara." As Chinese New Year coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, it will provide an opportunity for religious communities to reflect together. The Istiqlal Mosque's joint iftar and tarawih is one illustration.

The National Chinese New Year Festival, which is intended to be an open and welcoming celebration for the entire community, will mark the conclusion of the festivities. It will include national athletes in silat and wushu.

"We will showcase the fusion of modernity and tradition, and the coming together of two traditions under the banner of Indonesia," said Irene as quoted by Antara.

She said  that this year's festival will donate to disaster-affected areas by providing education, infrastructure to support the economy, protection of public facilities, and basic food aid.

This national Chinese New Year celebration also reflects the efforts of the Red and White Cabinet led by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to strengthen national unity and harmony in social life.

The inaugural festival will take place from February 17 to March 3, 2026, at Lapangan Banteng in Jakarta and will feature the tagline "Harmoni Nusantara." As Chinese New Year coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, it will provide an opportunity for religious communities to reflect together. One example is the joint iftar and tarawih at the Istiqlal Mosque.

The celebration will culminate in the National Chinese New Year Festival, designed as an open and inclusive event for the wider community. It will feature national athletes in silat and wushu.

"We will showcase the merging of modernity and tradition, and the coming together of two traditions under the banner of Indonesia," said Irene.

She said that this year's festival will donate to disaster-affected areas by providing education, infrastructure to support the economy, protection of public facilities, and basic food aid.

This year's national Chinese New Year celebration features a new logo depicting the Year of the Fire Horse. The logo, "Harmony of the Indonesian Chinese New Year 2026," depicts Indonesia's identity and characteristics, reflecting the acculturation of diverse Chinese cultures.

The Indonesian Lunar New Year Harmony logo is depicted as a red horse, a Betawi cultural symbol, with horsehair crowning it, accented with white, symbolizing the Indonesian national flag.

"If we look at the eyes, they represent fire. Fire ignites passion, and coincidentally, this year is the year of the Fire Horse. Therefore, the fire is represented there," explained Irene.

The fiery eyes symbolize passion, courage, and inner focus, aligning with the burning energy of the Fire Horse, which drives change and illuminates the future.

Irene continued, explaining that the logo features white lines on the horse's mouth and legs, symbolizing that every word and step must be accompanied by wisdom, awareness, and ethics, leading to the hope of a Golden Indonesia.

The logo also showcases three distinctively Indonesian elements: the Banji batik, which in the context of Chinese New Year represents endlessly rotating good fortune; the Pucung Rebung batik, a coastal batik often used in traditional Betawi cloth; and the batik flower on the raised leg, representing Indonesia's spirit of moving forward.

"When we take steps like the horse, we will always remember our human culture. Sometimes, as humans, we move too quickly and forget. We forget home, we forget culture, we forget humanity. This is what reminds us," Irene said.

In addition to the main event in Jakarta, the 2026 Chinese New Year Festival will be celebrated with national activities in several Indonesian cities, including Singkawang, Palembang, Solo, Semarang, Manado, and Makassar, as well as Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Bogor, Batam, and Pontianak. These events will showcase a variety of regional Chinese New Year cultural expressions in the spirit of Nusantara Harmony. ***