Photos: Drones Paint Jakarta’s Skyline in Place of Fireworks on New Year’s Eve

Joanito De Saojoao
January 1, 2026 | 1:04 pm

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Visitors watch a drone show during New Year's Eve celebrations at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Jakarta, early Thursday morning, Jan. 1, 2026. Jakarta marked the arrival of 2026 without fireworks as a gesture of empathy for victims of natural disasters in Sumatra. (B-Universe Photo/Joanito De Saojoao)

Jakarta. As the clock struck midnight to welcome 2026, Jakarta skipped its usual fireworks display and opted for a drone show instead, in a gesture of solidarity with disaster victims in Sumatra.

Hundreds of illuminated drones took to the night sky in synchronized formations, creating striking visuals and messages such as “Jakarta for Sumatra” and “Road to Jakarta 500” above Bundaran Hotel Indonesia.

The message also looked ahead to the city’s milestone year. Jakarta will mark its 500th anniversary in 2027, and Governor Pramono Anung has set his sights on positioning the capital among the world’s top 20 global cities.

Thousands of pedestrians filled Sudirman and Thamrin avenues, which were closed to traffic until the celebrations ended in the early hours of Thursday morning.

To accommodate the crowds, the city administration made public transportation free for the night, including TransJakarta buses and commuter trains. Train operating hours were also extended past midnight to serve visitors coming in from surrounding satellite cities.