Jakarta. Indonesia’s capital is set to welcome 2026 with large-scale, citywide celebrations on New Year’s Eve, as authorities roll out extended public transport services, traffic restrictions, and heightened security across major public spaces.

The Jakarta provincial government will host New Year’s Eve festivities on Wednesday under the theme “Jakarta Global City, From Jakarta for Indonesia,” with entertainment stages spread across eight locations, including Lapangan Banteng, the MH Thamrin corridor, Sarinah, the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, Dukuh Atas, Semanggi, SCBD, and FX Sudirman.

To support the events, Jakarta’s Transportation Agency will impose situational road closures at 33 points starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 through 1 a.m. on Jan. 1. Officials urged the public to use mass transit to ease congestion.

“We advise people attending the celebrations to use public transportation such as TransJakarta buses, MRT, LRT, and commuter trains to reduce traffic density,” Jakarta Transportation Agency head Syafrin Liputo said.

Deputy Governor Rano Karno echoed the appeal, asking residents heading to the Hotel Indonesia roundabout not to bring private vehicles. He said MRT and LRT services would operate until 2 a.m. to accommodate crowds returning home after midnight.

“We expect people to start heading home around 1 a.m., so public transport will run later than usual,” Rano said.

Security will be tight, with more than 2,000 personnel from the police, military, and local government deployed across Jakarta, according to Metro Jaya Traffic Police chief Komarudin. A car-free night will be enforced along the Sudirman–Thamrin corridor from the Horse Statue area to Bundaran Senayan between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Authorities will also focus on other crowd hotspots such as Ancol, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Kota Tua and major shopping and entertainment districts. Only emergency and official vehicles will be allowed through restricted zones to ensure clear evacuation routes.

With rain forecast for New Year’s Eve, police said personnel had been stationed at flood-prone roads, including parts of Jalan Tendean, to anticipate possible disruptions.

As part of the year-end celebrations, Jakarta is also hosting the Jakarta Light Festival on Dec. 30–31 at Kota Tua (Old Town). The free, open-air event transforms the historic district into a large-scale art space featuring light installations, video mapping, music performances and a drone show.

Historic buildings around Taman Fatahillah serve as illuminated backdrops, blending modern technology with the area’s colonial-era architecture. The city’s tourism agency said the festival aims to offer an inclusive alternative for celebrating the New Year while reinforcing Kota Tua’s identity as a cultural and heritage destination.

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