Color, devotion, and centuries-old tradition once again fill the streets of Singkawang. The city in West Kalimantan has returned to the spotlight as the Chinese-Indonesian community celebrates the Singkawang Cap Go Meh Festival, the grand finale of the Lunar New Year period, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival.
Cap Go Meh is observed every year on the 15th day after Lunar New Year. In 2026, the celebration falls on March 3. Although it is not a national public holiday like Lunar New Year, public enthusiasm remains strong across Indonesia.
Singkawang is widely known as home to one of the most vibrant Cap Go Meh celebrations in the country. This year, the 2026 Singkawang Cap Go Meh Festival runs from February 28 through March 4, 2026, offering nearly a full week of cultural festivities.
Throughout the festival period, both residents and visitors can explore the Cap Go Meh Culinary Festival, where a variety of Singkawang’s local specialties are showcased. Traditional rituals also take place at several temples, including the tatung exorcism ceremonies, which are central to the celebration. Lantern parades light up the evenings, leading to the highlight event: the grand tatung parade that moves through the city streets.
The tatung parade symbolizes the warding off of misfortune and prayers for safety. For those who wish to watch the main celebration from grandstand seating, tickets are available starting at Rp 250,000.
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“The number of tatung participants this year is 727 people, consisting of 523 stretcher-borne tatung, 108 without stretchers, 75 miniatures, 15 jelangkung, three dragons, two barongsai, and one walking group,” said Bun Cin Thong, Chair of the Lunar New Year and Cap Go Meh Celebration Committee in Singkawang, as quoted by Antara.
Beyond the cultural spectacle, the festival is also a major tourism driver. The Singkawang City Government has set an ambitious target of one million tourist visits for the 2026 event.
Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie expressed optimism about reaching that goal, pointing to strong visitor growth over the past three years.
“In 2023, the number of visits reached 606,663 people. In 2024, because it coincided with the Presidential Election and only a mini Cap Go Meh was held, there were 305,496 visits. Meanwhile in 2025, it increased to 702,056 visits,” Tjhai Chui Mie said in Singkawang on Friday (27/2/2026), as reported by Antara.
Looking at the steady rise from 2023 to 2025, the potential for a significant jump in 2026 appears promising. The Singkawang Cap Go Meh Festival 2026 has earned national recognition as a major annual cultural event with strong public appeal, reinforcing its reputation as one of Indonesia’s most anticipated celebrations.
