JABFEST 2026 to host art and book festival in Yogyakarta

The Jogja Art + Books Festival (JABFEST) 2026 is scheduled to take place for two weeks from September 30 to October 12, 2026, at The Ratan in the Panggungharjo area of Bantul, Yogyakarta.

Under the theme ‘Saksi Mata: Ketika Pendangkalan Berkuasa, Pendalaman Harus Bekerja’, the festival aims to facilitate public discussion regarding the state of the nation through art and literature. The event seeks to bridge the gap between the worlds of text and visual arts.

Program highlights include book discussions, cultural speeches, public lectures, artist talks, and a book bazaar. Program chairman Dodo Hartoko noted that the festival's strength lies in its ability to unite literacy and fine arts within a single cultural framework.