Inframe News – The 16th Dieng Culture Festival officially opened in Dieng Kulon, Banjarnegara, Central Java, on Friday, August 28, 2026. The three-day event runs through August 30 under the theme “Spirit of Harmony.” The festival brings together local traditions, arts, tourism activities and community-based businesses across the Dieng highlands.
The Ministry of Tourism has placed this year’s festival among the Top 10 events in the Karisma Event Nusantara program. The national program selects major tourism events based on their quality, tourism appeal and regional impact. The inclusion gives Dieng another platform to promote its cultural attractions to domestic and international visitors.
The opening ceremony took place at Venue Arjuna and featured a dove release as a symbol of harmony. A traditional martial arts performance from the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association of Banjarnegara was also presented during the opening. The event is being organized by the local Dieng Pandawa Tourism Awareness Group with support from the local and central governments.
This year’s “Spirit of Harmony” theme focuses on relationships between people, nature and cultural traditions. Organizers have positioned the festival as more than a tourism attraction, with environmental preservation and local economic participation also included in the program. The festival was developed as a community-led event that keeps local residents directly involved.
Several activities are taking place across different venues in the Dieng area. Visitors can find the Dieng Coffee Festival, an MSME exhibition, the Batur Sheep Festival and traditional art performances during the three-day program. Cultural activities are spread across venues including Arjuna, Pandawa and Gatotkaca.
Jazz Atas Awan is also returning to this year’s festival after being replaced by Simphony Dieng in 2025. The music program includes showcases and evening sessions at the Gatotkaca and Pandawa venues. The return of the jazz program adds a contemporary music element to the festival’s traditional cultural activities.
The festival also provides space for local small businesses to sell their products. Participating businesses include producers of Banjarnegara batik, traditional caping hats, carica products, purwaceng and locally produced coffee. Tourism officials said some local snack sellers had already sold out products during the opening day.
The main cultural ritual is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, when the festival will feature a cultural procession and the traditional hair-cutting ceremony for children with naturally matted hair. Around 10 children are expected to take part in the ceremony at the Arjuna Temple complex. The ritual remains one of the most recognizable cultural elements of the Dieng festival.
The festival’s program also includes an environmental activity called Dieng Bersih. The initiative is designed to involve visitors and local communities in keeping the festival area clean while promoting environmental awareness. Organizers have linked the activity to the broader goal of making the event more sustainable.
Banjarnegara Regent Amalia Desiana said the festival generates significant economic activity for residents in the area. She estimated that the event could create around Rp50 billion in money circulation for the local community. Local businesses, tourism operators and other community members are among those benefiting from the influx of visitors during the festival.
The Ministry of Tourism is conducting a survey throughout the three-day festival to measure its economic and tourism impact. The results will be used to evaluate the event and help determine its benefits for the local community in future editions. The ministry has supported Dieng Culture Festival since 2021 and plans to continue its collaboration with organizers.
