Culture Agency: 2026 Student Theater Festival Bolsters Local Cultural Ecosystem

Teaming up with the Central Jakarta Theater Foundation and the Jakarta Theater Institute, the Jakarta Culture Agency has launched the 2026 Student Theater Festival. It is designed as a creative hub to nurture theatrical talent and artistic appreciation among students across the capital.

We hope the Student Theater Festival remains a sustainable annual tradition

The festival features two primary tracks: the Children's Theater Festival (FTA) for elementary and middle schoolers, alongside the Student Theater Festival (FTP) tailored for high school students.

Jakarta Culture Agency Head, Mochamad Miftahulloh Tamary emphasized that the student theater festival plays a vital role in giving young Jakartans an outlet to showcase their creativity and artistic works.

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"Jakarta relies on the creativity and expression of its students to shape the capital into a vibrant, cultured global hub. Through theater, students do more than just pick up performing arts skills—they learn how to brainstorm, teamwork, stay disciplined, and find the courage to voice their ideas and perspectives," he expressed, Thursday (9/24).

The initiative forms part of a wider push to strengthen Jakarta's cultural ecosystem and give youth a bigger stage to bring their creative visions to life through theater.

Running from September 1 to 14, 2026, the Children's Theater Festival (FTA) took place across two major venues: the Taman Ismail Marzuki Small Theater and the Miss Tjitjih Arts Building. It brought together 24 children's theater troupes from all corners of Jakarta, wrapping up with a grand closing and winner announcement ceremony on September 14 at the Miss Tjitjih Arts Building.

At the same time, the 2026 High School Student Theater Festival (FTP) ran from September 10 to 20, 2026, at the Taman Ismail Marzuki Small Theater. The competition featured 15 top high school theater troupes—specifically the first, second, and third-place winners from various city-level preliminaries across Jakarta. The festival culminated in an awards night held on September 22, 2026, at the Jakarta Arts Building.

Beyond the competition itself, the festival offered direct backing to all involved. Every participating group in both the FTA and FTP received production grants to help fund their rehearsals and shows, while top winners and category champions walked away with cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.

The 2026 festival handed out accolades spanning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Best Groups, along with 1st and 2nd Runner-Up (Honorable Mention) groups, plus a series of individual and category-specific honors.

He noted that expanding creative avenues for youth takes on extra significance as Jakarta looks ahead to its 500th anniversary in 2027. He hoped that the theater festival will remain a long-term incubator, cultivating young minds with a deep appreciation for arts and culture who can actively contribute to Jakarta's rise as a global hub.

"Our journey toward Jakarta's 500th milestone needs to be fueled by the creativity and artistry of our youth. That is why we want expression hubs like this theater festival to keep thriving as a core pillar of Jakarta's cultural fabric," he concluded.

Jakarta Legislative Council Commission E Secretary, Justin Adrian Untayana pointed out that introducing theater activities from an early age plays a vital role in shaping the character of children and students.

In his view, early theatrical engagement lays the groundwork for resilience later in life. Kids pick up self-confidence, sharpen their communication and teamwork skills, learn responsibility, and gain a deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives and the creative process itself.

"We hope the Student Theater Festival remains a sustainable annual tradition, giving even more students across Jakarta the chance to explore, learn, and grow through theater," he concluded.

Check out the complete list of winners for the 2026 Student Theater Festival:

In the high school category (FTP 2026), the top group honors went to:

1. Best Group (1st Place): Teater Terasontime – SMAN 66 Jakarta

2. Best Group (2nd Place): Teater Quantum – SMAN 84 Jakarta

3. Best Group (3rd Place): Teater Soia – SMAN 101 Jakarta

4. 1st Runner-Up (Honorable Mention): Teater Total – SMAN 54 Jakarta

5. 2nd Runner-Up (Honorable Mention): Teater Tonix – SMAN 76 Jakarta

Meanwhile, the best category awards were presented to:

• Best Director: Kirei Runa – Teater Terasontime

• Best Actor: Octo as Babe Toha – Teater Soia

• Best Actress: Shalun as Mumun – Teater Soia

• Best Music Director: Andhisa, Felisha, Lukman, and Fatur – Teater Terasontime

• Best Artistic Designer: Quantum Art – Teater Quantum

• Best Makeup Artist: Zano Nation Kalangi et al. – Teater Thelapan

• Best Costume Designer: Ana, Alisa, and Nabila – Teater Bila

• Best Lighting Designer: Faqih – Teater Atlas

For the elementary and junior high school-level FTA, the best group awards were given to:

1. 1st Best Group: Lentera Community

2. 2nd Best Group: Pasukan Sastra 78

3. 3rd Best Group: Labs Theatre

4. 1st Honorable Mention Group: Teater Situs

5. 2nd Honorable Mention Group: Sanggar Afiesta

Meanwhile, the best category awards were presented to:

• Best Director: Ridwan Nur Zayin – Lentera Community

• Best Actor: Hidjrah Fahrul Aqso – Lentera Community

• Best Actress: Kirana Asri Malika – Labs Theater

• Best Supporting Actor: Haikal Malik Valdiano – Lentera Community

• Best Supporting Actress: Amanda Filzah Humaira – Lentera Community

• Best Stage Designer: Syahrul Ramadhan – Lentera Community

• Best Music Director: Rangga Pradityandaru – Teater Situs

• Best Lighting Designer: Zafran Khoir – Pasukan Sastra 78

• Best Movement Director: Sofyan Octa – Pasukan Sastra 78

• Best Publication Design: Sanggar Seni Nurul Yaqin (Play: Si Badul anak Ondel Ondel)

• Best Management: Teater Sakura (Play: Kerajaan Burung)