Fadli Zon Encourages Diplomacy and Cultural Industry through Indonesian Cultural Outlook 2026

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening the national cultural ecosystem through the Indonesian Cultural Outlook 2026. This strategic forum was held by the Directorate General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture at Plaza Insan Berprestasi, Ministry of Culture, Jakarta, on Monday (January 19, 2026), and was attended by representatives of the government, ambassadors from friendly countries, and international organizations.

Carrying the theme Living Heritage, Shared Future, Indonesian Cultural Outlook 2026 serves as a platform for Indonesia's cultural diplomacy amid a global situation marked by conflict, climate crisis, and technological disruption. Fadli assessed that culture plays a strategic role as a glue of civilization, a means of dialogue, and an instrument for building peace and cooperation among nations.

“Even if politics is sometimes divided, culture usually unites. Culture can be a remedy for the world's problems together,” said Fadli in his speech. Through this forum, the Ministry of Culture also encourages the strengthening of international collaboration involving around 60 countries. This cooperation includes the protection of cultural heritage, museum collection management, enhancement of human resource capacity, and the development of a culture-based economy.

Fadli outlined Indonesia's cultural wealth, which he referred to as megadiversity, encompassing 313 national cultural heritage sites, six UNESCO world heritage sites, 2,727 intangible cultural heritage items from Indonesia, over 1,200 preserved cultural assets, and tens of thousands of museums and cultural reserves.

In the policy direction for 2026, the Ministry of Culture has established five main pillars, namely the foundation of civilization based on the 1945 Constitution, integrated cultural governance based on data and digital, cultural economy as a strategic resource, dynamic cultural heritage protection, and strengthening digital transformation and global cultural diplomacy.

In the cultural development sector, the government will strengthen the ecosystem of literature, film, music, performing arts, and visual arts. In the field of literature, the Ministry of Culture is expanding the Indonesian Literature Translation Program with funding support for foreign publishers, as well as developing the Sasana Sastra, Maestro Sastra, and Literary Translation Laboratory programs.

“These programs are designed to produce Indonesian literary talents with global competitiveness and to expand the reach of international readers,” said Fadli.

Meanwhile, the film and music sectors are promoted as strategic cultural industries. The government targets increased production, audience growth, and international reach. In the film sector, the Ministry of Culture will produce historically narrative films, hold short film competitions, and target Indonesia's participation in 17 major international film festivals throughout 2026.

In the music sector, several programs will continue, such as the Indonesian Music Conference, Indonesian Traditional Music Festival, Children's Song Competition, Gita Bahana Nusantara, Keroncong Svaranusa, Harmoni Zaman, and Lokovasia. In addition to cultural industry development, the ministry also prioritizes strengthening museums and historical literacy, local food movements, advocacy for indigenous belief communities, accelerating the transmission of cultural values, and the sustainability of cultural talents.

Fadli emphasized that Indonesian Cultural Outlook 2026 is expected to be the starting point for the emergence of productive dialogue, mutual understanding, and concrete commitments to cultural cooperation with international partners. “If we align resources, expertise, and networks, we can present a more resilient cultural heritage, empowered communities, competitive cultural industries, and Indonesia's cultural contributions to global peace and development,” he concluded.