August 17, 2026 | 09:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority held a ceremony to commemorate Indonesia's 81st Independence Day on Monday, August 17, 2026. Held at Plaza Seremoni at IKN, East Kalimantan, the event cost approximately Rp2 billion.
IKN Authority Head Basuki Hadimuljono said the cost covered the accommodations for participants of the Independence Day series of events, from preparations to their stay at the new capital. "I believe it's around Rp2 billion," said the former Minister of Public Works and Public Housing under President Joko Widodo after the ceremony.
According to Basuki, the costs also covered accommodation for the flag-bearing team, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) of the National Police who stayed at the capital city.
They have been staying at IKN for about two weeks prior to the Independence Day events, he said.
Basuki explained that the IKN Authority budget did not cover the entirety of the activities during Independence Day commemoration, as some received backings from sponsors. "We had a good partnership with several sponsors, such as Bank Mandiri, and there are also door prizes. I think the budget is relative," he said.
The Independence Day celebrations at the IKN are part of the IKN Authority's efforts to maintain activity in the new capital. Not only a flag-hoisting ceremony, the series of activities includes sports, arts, and cultural activities.
The flag-hoisting ceremony at IKN was attended by approximately 3,500 participants. The flag-lowering ceremony in the afternoon was attended by approximately 2,500 people. They were invited from both within IKN and outside the city, including a number of state officials from Jakarta.
This year, the state ceremonies for the 81st Indonesian Independence Day were centered in Jakarta. At the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta, the ceremony was attended by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
This is Prabowo's second time celebrating Independence Day in Jakarta as President. On August 17, 2024, as president-elect, Prabowo accompanied the then-president, Joko Widodo, to the ceremony at the IKN.
However, after being inaugurated on October 20, 2024, Prabowo never again celebrated Indonesian Independence Day at the capital city.
The capital city megaproject, which kicked off during the Jokowi era, is said to no longer be a priority under Prabowo's administration. Prabowo, for example, did not mention the capital city at all among the eight National Priority Work Programs in the 2027 Draft State Budget (RAPBN).
Despite this, IKN Authority head Basuki Hadimuljono assured that development will continue in the new capital. According to Basuki, its construction is included in the infrastructure program, which remains a priority in the RAPBN. "There's no need for a separate mention. I think that's his policy," he said in IKN on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Read: IKN Project Continues as Jakarta Remains Indonesia's Capital
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