IdeaFest 2026
Entering its 15th year, IdeaFest 2026 returns as one of Indonesia’s largest creative festivals, bringing together innovators, creators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from various sectors, including film, music, fashion, technology, politics, F&B, comedy, sports, and pop culture.
Carrying the theme “ReHumanize,” IdeaFest 2026 serves as a response to the rapid development of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), which continue to transform the way people live, work, and interact.
The theme is a call for industries to once again place humanity at the center of innovation. Amid increasingly fast and measurable technological advancements, true competitive value lies in qualities that machines cannot replicate — such as empathy, intuition, creativity, and cultural understanding.
This year, IdeaFest 2026 will take place on September 4–6, 2026 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) with a larger scale and programs that are increasingly relevant to today’s industry and societal dynamics.
For more than a decade, IdeaFest has become a platform where diverse perspectives and cross-industry ideas meet to encourage collaboration, innovation, and positive impact for the growth of Indonesia’s creative industry.
Desy Bachir, Co-chair of IdeaFest, explained, “The theme ‘ReHumanize’ is a collective movement that feels especially relevant amid today’s accelerated technological progress. We believe that behind every innovation, there must always be human values as the foundation. Without them, technology risks losing its direction and meaning. Through IdeaFest, we aim to create a cross-industry discussion space that ensures innovation remains human-centered, while also opening conversations about technology’s social, cultural, and emotional impact on people.”
AI adoption in Indonesia itself continues to show significant growth.
Based on a study by PwC Indonesia, 69% of workers in Indonesia have used AI in their professional activities over the past year, with 16% utilizing it on a daily basis.
This reflects how technology is becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life and requires a more human-oriented approach.
Responding to this dynamic, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH) supports IdeaFest 2026 as part of the company’s commitment to encouraging AI utilization that is more inclusive, relevant, and connected to people’s daily lives.
For Indosat, technological and AI advancement is not only about innovation, but also about how technology can help people stay connected, create, and unlock new opportunities in the digital era.
Ovidia Nomia, SVP-Head of Corporate Communications at Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, stated, “Amid the rapid growth of AI, creativity and human connection are becoming even more important. Technology can accelerate many things, but human ideas, empathy, and perspectives remain irreplaceable. AI should expand human potential, not replace human roles. That is why we see IdeaFest as a relevant platform to bring together creativity, technology, and cross-industry collaboration in shaping a more inclusive and meaningful future.”
Indosat also believes that humans must remain the primary drivers in the use of technology, while AI should serve to strengthen human capability, creativity, and impact. In this way, technology can be developed based on real needs and provide meaningful benefits to the everyday lives of Indonesian society.
Every year, IdeaFest presents inspiring figures from various fields who have made positive contributions to the development of the creative industry. These speakers and collaborators come from industries such as film, music, fashion, technology, politics, F&B, comedy, sports, and many others.
From the perspective of branding and consumer experience, Stephanie Regina, Founder and CEO of Haloka Group as well as one of the Braintrust members of IdeaFest 2026, emphasized, “Today, people are also searching for meaningful connections. Creativity plays a crucial role in making messages feel alive and relatable, allowing communities to become part of an ecosystem capable of creating organic engagement.”
As part of this year’s refresh, IdeaFest introduces a new program called JKTGO SUPER CRAZY FESTIVAL through a collaboration with JKT GO. This curated bazaar program will feature more than 200 local brands, providing a platform for creative entrepreneurs to grow. Ian Eryanto Wongso, Co-Founder of JKT GO, shared, “Impactful content always carries cultural and emotional context. Through IdeaFest Picks, we want to create experiences that are meaningful and relevant to people’s lives, helping maintain authentic connections in today’s fast-moving digital world.”
Meanwhile, representing IdeaFest Speakers, Patrick Effendy, Founder of Creative Prompt, highlighted that, “The biggest challenge is not merely keeping up with technology, but understanding how technology can deliver real value. Innovation must begin with human problems, not technology itself, because creativity, intuition, and decision-making remain irreplaceable strengths.”
Through IdeaFest 2026, the organizers hope to encourage a shift in mindset within the creative industry — that the success of innovation should not only be measured by technological sophistication, but also by its impact on human life.
With cross-sector collaboration, expansion into cities such as Surabaya, and programs like IdeaFriends and JKTGO SUPER CRAZY FESTIVAL, IdeaFest continues its commitment to becoming a catalyst for the growth of Indonesia’s creative industry. IdeaFest invites creators, industry players, communities, and the public to become part of the “ReHumanize” movement in creating a future that is more inclusive, empathetic, and meaningful.
This event is held in collaboration with PT Pertamina (Persero) and Indofood through its brands Indomie, Pop Mie, Indomilk, and Chitato Lite as Official Sponsors.
For ticket purchases and further information regarding the full series of IdeaFest 2026 events, please visit the official social media account @ideafestid. Tickets are available through loket.com/ideafest2026 starting from IDR 350,000.
