Mass running events in Jakarta

Jakarta has hosted several large-scale running events in 2026. In August, the Merdeka Run 2026 was held to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence. On August 29, approximately 12,000 participants gathered for the 8-kilometer race, which was flagged off in front of the Istana Merdeka by State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. The route spanned from Istana Merdeka through Jalan MH Thamrin, Bundaran HI, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, and Dukuh Atas. The opening ceremony included the singing of Indonesia Raya and a flypass by three F-16 fighter jets over the Monas area. Participants competed in various categories, including general, family, master, and wheelchair. The inclusion of participants like Fandi Akhmad and Wini Nurkustiah in the wheelchair category highlighted the event’s inclusive nature. The event also featured a display of creativity through diverse costumes, such as superhero outfits, independence fighter costumes, and traditional Indonesian attire like Ulos cloth. Muhammad Ikhsan A. P. received the ‘Best Costume Budaya’ award for wearing a traditional Leak Bali costume to promote Indonesian heritage. Additionally, PT Pertamina (Persero) announced the 13th annual Pertamina Eco RunFest, scheduled for December 6, 2026. This event aims to target 14,000 runners under the theme ‘Spark the Change, Leave Zero Trace’, focusing on environmental activism and plastic waste management. Organizers stated that 100 percent of ticket sale profits will be donated to ‘Eco-Mission’ programs to support initiatives such as reforestation. On September 7, Project Manager Didi Andrian Indra Kusuma further detailed the event as a movement for human health, community, and environmental sustainability. A key component is the ‘Eco Jersey’ initiative, which uses circular economy principles to manufacture running shirts from recycled plastic bottles and textile waste.