Kriyanusa 2026 Opens, Dekranas Claims It Is Indonesia's Largest Craft Exhibition

The National Craft Council (Dekranas) is officially preparing the opening of the Kriyanusa 2026 Exhibition, to be held at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Senayan, on 26-30 September 2026. Ahead of the event, Dekranas held a tumpengan ceremony and a full dress rehearsal on Friday (25/9) to strengthen coordination among the committee and all stakeholders.

Dekranas Daily Chair, who is also Chair of the TP PKK, Tri Tito Karnavian, stressed that this exhibition has a different character from similar events. According to her, Kriyanusa is not only oriented toward trade transactions but also serves as a form of dedication to support government programs, particularly in promoting domestic craft products.

"Alhamdulillah, with everyone's cooperation, working shoulder to shoulder and supporting one another, Insyaallah we can carry out the Kriyanusa Exhibition, which is one of the largest craft exhibitions in Indonesia," Tri said before the committee and event supporters.

For the Dekranas 2024-2029 leadership, Kriyanusa 2026 is its first national-scale stage. Tri openly acknowledged that the board members, most of whom are women, do not have a professional background in the exhibition industry. However, she considers the collective spirit and cross-party support the main capital for making the event a success.

"There are extraordinary women who support us. Frankly, we are women who have no background in holding an exhibition this large," she added.

Beyond the exhibition, Dekranas is preparing a number of competitions and a curation of potential crafts from various regions. This step is seen as a systematic effort to produce new flagship products capable of competing in domestic and international markets. According to several creative industry observers, such an approach is crucial to strengthening a craft ecosystem that has long been constrained by market access and the regeneration of artisans.

In the Indonesian context, Kriyanusa 2026 is a barometer of how far the craft sector can survive amid global economic pressure. The exhibition is also a proving ground that local products can drive regional economies, especially if supported by digital marketing strategies and partnerships with e-commerce platforms. The government itself has repeatedly targeted crafts as one of the contributors to non-oil and gas foreign exchange, so this event is not merely ceremonial.

Tri expressed appreciation to all committee members and supporters who contributed ideas, energy, and materials. She hopes the wider public will attend and enliven the exhibition through its final day.

"Let us pray together and enliven it later; until 30 September, let us all mobilize our respective forces to come and see the Kriyanusa Exhibition," Tri concluded.

Going forward, the success of Kriyanusa 2026 will be tested by how much economic impact it has for small and medium artisans. If visitor and transaction targets are met, it is not impossible that Dekranas will push for a similar exhibition format in other cities. However, challenges remain: ensuring that the products displayed do not remain mere displays but enter the supply chain of the modern market sustainably.