MATARAM, Indonesia — The opening ceremony of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026 at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit will showcase a grand collaborative cultural performance featuring traditional heroic dances from seven regions across the Indonesian archipelago.
Local choreographer and Head of the NTB Cultural Center, Lalu Suryadi Mulawarman, confirmed that the performance will integrate traditional dance forms from Papua, Maluku, Minahasa, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), South Sulawesi, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) into a unified narrative celebrating martial heritage and regional traditions.
The opening ceremony artistic production involves over 250 local and regional talents, incorporating key traditional art forms:
- Heroic & Traditional Dances: Featuring NTT’s Caci whip dance, Maluku’s Cakalele, Minahasa’s Kabasaran, NTB’s Tandang Mendet, Papua’s War Dance (Tari Perang), South Sulawesi’s Pakarena, and traditional Balinese dance.
- Supporting Musical Ensembles: Enriched by a marching band from IPDN (STPDN), a color guard troop, and Lombok’s traditional Gendang Beleq percussionists.
- Cultural Narrative: Designed around themes of martial bravery and deep-rooted Indonesian heritage to welcome international teams and global spectators.
Provincial authorities highlighted that embedding diverse archipelago traditions into the MotoGP opening program reinforces Mandalika’s identity as a premier global sport tourism hub anchored in rich cultural diplomacy.
