Performance has always been a way to look at the world from a different perspective, and SIPFest continues that conversation in Jakarta. The return of the Salihara International Performing Arts Festival (SIPFest) marks one of the most anticipated moments in Jakarta’s performing arts calendar. Taking place from 1 to 30 August 2026, the biennial festival invites audiences to experience a month of theatre, dance, music and multimedia performances from artists across Asia and the Asian diaspora.
Anchored by the theme “asiaria,” SIPFest 2026, the curated lineup features an extraordinary array of regional talent, including iconic Asia-based artists such as Sankai Juku from Japan, Ho Rui An from Singapore, and Wang Chong from China. Joining them are diaspora performers including Monica Lim and Mindy Meng Wang from Australia and China, alongside Ruben Reniers and Irene Tanuwidjaja from the Netherlands and Indonesia. Representing Indonesia are multidisciplinary artist Melati Suryodarmo, actor Rukman Rosadi, musician Siko Setyanto and experimental music collective KUNTARI.
One of the bigger projects on the schedule is Nadirah, which marks Salihara’s first three-country theatre collaboration. Written by Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa’at and directed by Malaysian theatre-maker Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, the production features performers from Salihara’s Acting Class in Indonesia. Originally staged in Singapore, the play carries themes that resonate across Southeast Asia, offering a new interpretation for Indonesian audiences.
For those curious about the creative process, Ruang Karya Bertumbuh offers a rare look at works before they reach their final form. Audiences are invited to see performances at different stages of creation, while discussions around the works become part of the process. This year’s participants include Fioretti Vera Joned Suryatmoko, Boet Bismart, Frans Junias Jugganza and South Korean artist Jiyoung Yoo.
Rising as a celebration of contemporary performance in Asia, SIPFest 2026 looks at the many ways contemporary artists across Asia are interpreting the world around them through theatre, dance, music and multimedia. The festival offers audiences to discover different stories, perspectives and artistic expressions coming out of Asia today.
Full ticket details, performance times, and booking information are available directly here sipfest.salihara.org or follow @komunitas_salihara on Instagram for more updates.
Komunitas Salihara Arts Center
Jl. Salihara No.16, Ps. Minggu, Kota Jakarta Selatan,Hours:
T: +6221-7891202
