Nahdlatul Ulama prepares for 35th Muktamar in Jombang

Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), will hold its 35th Muktamar at Pondok Pesantren Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas in Jombang, East Java, from 27 to 31 August 2026. Secretary‑General Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) said more than 3,000 participants are expected and that intensive coordination is under way with regional NU leaders, the pesantren’s caretakers and local officials to arrange accommodation, transport and meeting venues.

Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) stressed that the congress must formulate strategies to confront a "new world" shaped by ongoing global conflicts, likening the shift to the post‑COVID‑19 "new normal." He called for NU to play a strategic role both in Indonesia and for humanity at large, hoping the Muktamar will produce decisive, forward‑looking policies for the organization’s future.