The Papandayan Jazz Fest 2026 United Music, Culture and Generations
The 11th edition of The Papandayan Jazz Fest (TPJF) 2026, held on 3–4 October at The Papandayan Hotel Bandung, celebrated Indonesia’s jazz scene under the theme “Sounds to the Soul.” The festival welcomed thousands of visitors across six stages, with approximately 70% of its programme dedicated to jazz, reaffirming its commitment to keeping the genre at the heart of Indonesia’s music industry.
Featuring renowned musicians including Barry Likumahuwa, Andre Dinuth, Tommy Pratomo, Balawan, Rafi Sudirman, SimakDialog and Funky Journal, TPJF 2026 also presented exclusive collaborations across generations. Highlights included Diskoria feat. Andien, Rieka Roslan feat. Lalahuta, and The Gentlemen’s Club—Adikara, Bilal Indrajaya and Teza Sumendra—performing songs by Koes Plus.
Special performances added further diversity to the festival. A Night of Frank Sinatra, led by Dwiki Dharmawan with the Bandung Jazz Orchestra, Dira Sugandi and Dirly Dave, reinterpreted Sinatra’s classics in a big-band arrangement. Meanwhile, Freedom Jazz Society feat. Rinni Wulandari introduced an exclusive electronic jazz project blending soul, groove and contemporary urban sounds.
The festival also welcomed celebrated vocalists Ruth Sahanaya and Mahalini, whose performances connected audiences across generations. Mahalini’s show, featuring popular songs such as Mati-Matian, Bohongi Hati, Melawan Restu and Sisa Rasa, became the festival’s most attended performance.
Supporting the future of Indonesian jazz remained a key priority through The Papandayan International Online Jazz Competition (TPJC). Its alumni and finalists performed across festival stages, while Barry Likumahuwa feat. TPJC Collective showcased “The Pajaco Groove,” a composition inspired by the Papandayan Jazz Competition.
Beyond music, TPJF celebrated Indonesian cultural heritage through performances by Ranggaswara Group and Swara Katresna, alongside a wayang golek show featuring Ki Dalang Anom Ali Bratha Sena. The festival also presented the TPJF Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary group BIMBO, recognising more than five decades of contribution to Indonesian music.
According to Bobby Renaldi, Founder of TP Jazz Management and General Manager of The Papandayan Hotel Bandung, the festival continues to strengthen community engagement and deliver a positive impact on the jazz ecosystem. Mohammad Mirdal Akib, CEO of Media Group, also highlighted TPJF’s consistency in maintaining its jazz identity, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when the festival continued online.
More than a decade since its inception, The Papandayan Jazz Fest has grown into a meeting point for established artists, emerging talent, cultural heritage and musical innovation. Through its commitment to collaboration, regeneration and the development of Indonesia’s jazz ecosystem, TPJF 2026 reaffirmed its position as a festival that connects jazz with new generations of listeners.
This year’s edition was supported by Kota Baru Parahyangan, BRI, Ron88, MLD Spot and Mojang Jajaka Kota Bandung.
Source: https://indonesiaexpat.id/