Gandrung Sewu and BEC Return to Indonesia’s KEN 2026 Cultural Events Lineup

Banyuwangi, East Java, is preparing to stage two of its flagship festivals—Festival Gandrung Sewu and the Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival (BEC)—both of which have been included in the 2026 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar launched by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism.

The official announcement was made on Friday (Jan. 23, 2026) via the @karismaeventnusantara social media channels. KEN serves as a national showcase of Indonesia’s top events, featuring only festivals that pass a stringent curation process and are deemed ready to be promoted at national and international levels.

The news was welcomed enthusiastically in East Java, particularly in Banyuwangi. Of the 125 events listed in KEN 2026 and 11 events from East Java that made the national calendar, Banyuwangi contributed two entries.

The achievement further reinforces Banyuwangi’s standing as a benchmark for culture-based festivals in Indonesia. The regency’s consistency in packaging local traditions into well-produced performances has been credited with maintaining event quality year after year.

Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani said she was proud of the recognition, noting that inclusion in the national agenda is both an honor and a powerful promotional platform with wide-reaching impact.

“It is a point of pride for Banyuwangi to once again have our two flagship events included in KEN 2026. This is certainly a promotional platform for Banyuwangi on a broader scale, and the benefits can be felt by tourism players and local communities,” Ipuk said, as quoted by Times Indonesia.

Boosting the local economy

The Banyuwangi administration has begun preparing technical and logistical needs for both events, anticipating a rise in tourist arrivals throughout 2026.

Ipuk also expressed confidence that the inclusion of two Banyuwangi Festival agendas in KEN would serve as effective regional promotion, with tangible benefits for tourism businesses and residents.

KEN itself is a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and regional administrations, designed to encourage high-quality festivals that meet international standards while keeping local wisdom at the core.

She said the KEN calendar is expected to help drive a significant increase in domestic and international tourist visits throughout 2026. Festival Gandrung Sewu and BEC are seen as particularly strong attractions for consistently highlighting local cultural wealth and mobilizing large-scale community participation.

“The economic impact, or multiplier effect, for MSMEs, transportation providers, and accommodation businesses is strongly felt every time a major festival is held. Local community involvement is the main key to the success of each cultural event,” she said.

Tourism calendar

According to a provisional schedule, the Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival is set to take place on July 11, 2026. Festival Gandrung Sewu, featuring a massive dance performance, is slated for Oct. 24, 2026.

With Gandrung Sewu and BEC again included in the KEN 2026 calendar, Banyuwangi is further cementing its position as a leading national destination for cultural festivals, underscoring how local wisdom can become a magnet for world-class tourism.

In addition to Gandrung Sewu and BEC, other East Java events included in KEN 2026 are the Festival Rujak Uleg, Surabaya Vaganza, the National Reog Ponorogo Festival, Seogoro Topeng Kaliwungu, Festival Ronthek, Jember Fashion Festival, Tong Tong Night Market, the Trenggalek Open Jaranan Festival, and the Tong Tong Music Festival.

Indonesianpost.com | GNFI