Mita Amalia Hapsari, Dian Aprilianingrum, Ifan Ahmad, Jakarta – Cities across Indonesia will not ring in the New Year with their usual fanfare, choosing instead subdued celebrations as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in Sumatra that have killed more than 1,000 people.
In Jakarta, Governor Pramono Anung said the capital's New Year celebrations would be held in a calm and reflective manner, with prayers for disaster victims taking center stage. While Jakarta must still mark the transition into 2026 as the country's capital and a global city, he said extravagance would be avoided.
"Even in simplicity, I want Jakarta to remain a symbol of optimism for welcoming 2026," Pramono said on Thursday. "But we are all in mourning, and that must be reflected in how we celebrate."
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), flash floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra have claimed at least 1,068 lives as of Friday morning. Another 190 people remain missing and around 7,000 have been injured.
Pramono said Jakarta's New Year events would include joint prayers for the victims. He added that the Jakarta provincial government has been regularly sending aid to affected regions, including direct assistance to districts that suffered the worst damage, although he said such efforts were not always publicized.
Similar decisions have been taken in other cities. Denpasar, the capital of Bali, has canceled its usual New Year's Eve music concerts and fireworks. Instead, the city will host a cultural arts event titled Melepas Matahari on Dec. 31, focusing on artistic expression rather than celebration.
Denpasar cultural affairs official I Wayan Arta said the event would run from late afternoon to night and feature performances by around 65 art groups, including traditional dances from Aceh, Java, Borneo and Chinese-Indonesian communities.
In Central Java, Banyumas Regency will also mark the New Year quietly. Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono said celebrations would be kept modest out of concern for disaster victims and amid lingering financial pressures faced by local governments and communities. Security for Christmas and New Year holidays, however, will remain tight, with hundreds of personnel deployed to protect worship services and public spaces.
Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin has gone further, urging residents not to celebrate New Year's Eve with parties at all. He called on citizens to replace festivities with prayers and reflection, saying empathy and restraint were more meaningful than fireworks and crowds.