Kelanawisata.id, Sleman - The Yogyakarta Cultural Festival (FKY) is an annual event organized by the Cultural Affairs Office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. This event serves as a platform to develop, introduce, and promote the arts and culture of Yogyakarta. This year, the FKY is centered around the concept and theme of “Aksara.”

The festival serves as a space that brings together various cultural elements and practitioners, thereby strengthening the connections between the arts and culture in the region. In addition to focusing on local Yogyakarta arts, the FKY also provides a platform for artists from various regions across Indonesia to participate.

The festival has been held since 1989, coinciding with the inauguration of the Jogja Kembali Monument. Every year, FKY features a different theme. For example, in 2022, FKY adopted the theme “documenting culture” as a continuation of previous editions. The diversity of themes each year creates a unique identity and distinct character for the festival.

According to information posted on the @infofky Instagram page, this year’s FKY theme is “Aksara.” The word “aksara” carries a profound philosophy: it is derived from the combination of the syllables “a” (not) and “ksar” (extinct or destroyed), which together embody the meaning of something eternal and timeless.

FKY 2026 will be held at Beran Field in Sleman (the former Beran Sugar Factory—Local Government Area) on September 13–19, 2026. Unlike previous years, when the festival featured cultural parades at various locations, this year’s FKY will have a different format than usual.

The event is centered at a single location and involves nearly 700 dancers from various art groups and communities across five regencies and cities in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X officially opened the festival by reciting a traditional poem titled “Sabda Budaya.”

The week-long event features a variety of activities involving people from all walks of life. Open art events such as photography, painting, and mural competitions served as platforms for creative exploration for both artists and the general public. Additionally, a performance by the UGM Stand-Up Comedy Community added to the festival’s excitement. The inclusion of such entertainment demonstrated that culture is not limited to classical traditions but can also evolve through contemporary forms of expression that resonate more closely with the younger generation.

The Yogyakarta Cultural Festival (FKY) 2026 officially concluded on September 19, 2026, at Lapangan Beran in Sleman. The closing ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, KGPAA Paku Alam X, through a cultural procession marked by the return of the FKY banner.

The closing atmosphere was made even more festive by a rendition of the song “Lir-Ilir” by Kiai Kanjeng and a folk entertainment performance. The closing of FKY 2026 not only marked the end of the festival but also reaffirmed the hope that Yogyakarta’s culture will continue to thrive, evolve, and be passed down to future generations.