12,000 runners join Merdeka Run 2026 at Istana Merdeka

About 12,000 participants took part in Merdeka Run 2026 in front of Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, on Saturday (29/8), closing the Bulan Kemerdekaan series for the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia. The 8-kilometer race started at 06.00 WIB and was opened by State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Before the start, thousands of drones formed a map of Indonesia, the Red and White Flag, Garuda, and a message marking the independence anniversary in the Jakarta sky. Three F-16 aircraft then flew over the Monas area, followed by a helicopter carrying a giant Red and White Flag as the race was underway. The running route stretched from in front of Istana Merdeka to MH Thamrin, Bundaran HI, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, and Dukuh Atas, before returning to the starting point. Several roads around central Jakarta were temporarily closed until around 07.30 WIB.