Jakarta festival connects music with collective memory
· BehindLines newsroom
The International Ethnic Music Festival is scheduled at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Jakarta from 6 to 10 November 2026. Its programme brings together concerts, sound installations, public discussions and workshops, according to the Jakarta Arts Council (Conseil des arts de Jakarta).
The cultural listings published by Genvoice on 7 November confirm the venue and dates of this edition. They describe it as an opportunity to listen to musical practices from different traditions. The event therefore continues beyond the weekend of 7 and 8 November.
An evening of concerts on 9 November
According to the Arts Council's programme, a traditional music session is scheduled for Monday, 9 November, from 15:30 to 22:00, Jakarta time, at the Wahyu Sihombing theatre.
The organiser announces practitioners from Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea (Corée du Sud). It aims to place music within its cultural context, respecting the boundaries of the sacred and the authority of the communities involved.
Listening, then exploring sound
The sound and ethnographic installations are announced through 10 November, from 16:00 to 21:00. A public activation of the installation space is also included in the programme from 8 to 10 November, between 10:00 and 15:00.
When preparing a visit, it is useful to distinguish the installations' schedule from the times set for concerts. A musical evening on the 9th does not mark the end of the festival. Visitors can plan their route around listening to a stage performance or discovering how sound is presented within a space.
Sources: Jakarta Arts Council and Genvoice, listed in the references above.