Jakarta. Indonesia will host the first International Grand Imams Conference (IGIC) from Sept. 25 to 28, bringing together Islamic religious leaders from around the world to promote peace and religious diplomacy.

Themed “Mosque Harmony, Religious Diplomacy, and Global Peace,” the conference will explore the role of mosques beyond religious worship, including as platforms for conflict resolution and humanitarian cooperation.

Religious Affairs Minister and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar said the conference marked a new milestone in international cooperation among grand imams.

“This is the first time it has been held in the world. Indonesia is launching the International Grand Imams Conference, which we call IGIC 2026,” Nasaruddin said at a news conference at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Nasaruddin said regional meetings among grand imams had previously taken place, including through the International Grand Imam Association (IGIA), whose president is the grand imam of Istiqlal Mosque. However, those initiatives had not yet reached a global scale.

He said mosques could serve as meeting points for addressing humanitarian challenges.

“A mosque is a meeting point between human beings and God. Therefore, it can also be a meeting point to discuss fundamental humanitarian issues,” Nasaruddin said.

One of the conference's key agendas is the establishment of the International Grand Imam Forum, also referred to as the Grand Imam World Council. The proposed forum would bring together grand imams from different countries to coordinate responses to emerging global challenges.

“It is a kind of unity among the world's grand imams that will foster cooperation in anticipating global problems emerging today,” Nasaruddin said.

The conference has secured confirmation from 47 delegates representing 39 countries. Its discussions will focus on religious diplomacy as an additional channel for supporting formal diplomatic efforts between countries.

Through IGIC 2026, Indonesia aims to strengthen its role in international religious cooperation and efforts to promote harmony and peace.

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