Indonesia celebrates National Santri Day 2026

Indonesia marked National Santri Day on October 22, 2026, under the theme ‘Santri Menguatkan Negeri Menuju Indonesia Emas’ (Santri Strengthening the Nation Towards Golden Indonesia). The commemoration honors the historical role of Islamic boarding school students and scholars, particularly their contribution to the ‘Resolusi Jihad’ during the struggle for independence.

Various regional and national activities were held to celebrate the occasion. In Central Java, thousands gathered for the ‘Jateng Bersholawat’ event in Tegal, where officials and religious leaders emphasized the importance of supporting religious teachers and students through scholarship programs. In Banyuwangi, local civil servants wore traditional santri attire for a week to honor the tradition.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) emphasized that modern santri must balance religious tradition with mastery of science, technology, and foreign languages to contribute to national development and global competitiveness. The day serves as a reminder of the strategic role pesantren play in maintaining national unity and social stability.