Festival Danau Sentani Jadi Ruang Tumbuh Ekonomi Masyarakat

SENTANI – Festival Danau Sentani ke-15 Tahun 2026 diarahkan menjadi ruang pengembangan ekonomi masyarakat berbasis budaya dan potensi lokal Papua. Pemerintah Provinsi Papua mendorong keterlibatan pelaku UMKM, kuliner tradisional, pangan lokal, serta perajin dalam rangkaian festival.

Gubernur Papua Matius Fakhiri mengatakan kekayaan budaya harus memberikan manfaat nyata bagi masyarakat. Menurutnya, festival dapat menjadi ruang untuk mengembangkan potensi lokal sekaligus membuka peluang ekonomi.

“Kita ingin budaya tidak berhenti di atas panggung. Budaya harus memberikan manfaat nyata bagi masyarakat,” kata Fakhiri dalam Pembukaan Festival Danau Sentani ke-15 di Pantai Kalkhote, Distrik Sentani Timur, Kabupaten Jayapura, Kamis (3/9/2026).

Fakhiri menyebut festival kuliner tradisional, pengembangan pangan lokal, pameran kerajinan, pertunjukan seni, dan keterlibatan UMKM menjadi bagian penting dalam pengembangan ekonomi masyarakat.

Ia menilai berbagai potensi tersebut dapat dikembangkan secara berkelanjutan dengan tetap mempertahankan nilai budaya yang menjadi identitas masyarakat Papua.

“Papua Sejahtera berarti kekayaan budaya dan potensi lokal harus mampu membuka ruang ekonomi dan meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat,” ujarnya.

Festival Danau Sentani ke-15 berlangsung melalui rangkaian pra-festival pada 25–29 Agustus 2026. Sementara puncak festival digelar pada 3–5 September 2026 di Pantai Kalkhote.

Berbagai atraksi budaya ditampilkan dalam festival, mulai dari Isosolo atau tarian di atas perahu, panen ulat sagu, pangkur sagu, seni musik, tari, cerita rakyat, hingga kerajinan dan kuliner tradisional.

Fakhiri juga mengajak pemerintah daerah, tokoh adat, dunia usaha, akademisi, seniman, perempuan, pemuda, komunitas, media, dan masyarakat untuk terlibat dalam pengembangan budaya dan ekonomi Papua.

“Papua akan maju apabila kita berjalan bersama, bergandeng tangan dalam semangat gotong-royong, persaudaraan, dan saling menghormati,” katanya.

Ia berharap Festival Danau Sentani menjadi ruang perjumpaan, kebanggaan, kreativitas, sekaligus ruang tumbuhnya ekonomi masyarakat. Fakhiri juga mengapresiasi para Ondofolo, Ondoafi, dan Khoselo yang menjaga ketenteraman hingga pembukaan festival berlangsung aman dan damai. ***

SENTANI – The 15th Lake Sentani Festival 2026 is being positioned as a platform to develop the local economy through Papua’s cultural heritage and local potential. The Papua Provincial Government is encouraging the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), traditional food vendors, local food producers, and artisans throughout the festival.

Papua Governor Matius Fakhiri said the region’s rich cultural heritage should provide tangible benefits for local communities. He said the festival could serve as a platform to develop local potential while creating new economic opportunities.

“We want culture to be more than just something displayed on stage. Culture must provide tangible benefits for the community,” Fakhiri said during the opening of the 15th Lake Sentani Festival at Kalkhote Beach, East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, on Thursday (Sept. 3, 2026).

Fakhiri said traditional culinary festivals, local food development, handicraft exhibitions, cultural performances, and MSME participation were important components of community economic development.

He said these local potentials could be developed sustainably while preserving the cultural values that form an integral part of Papua’s identity.

“A Prosperous Papua means that our cultural wealth and local potential must create economic opportunities and improve people’s welfare,” he said.

The 15th Lake Sentani Festival began with a pre-festival series held from Aug. 25–29, 2026, followed by the main festival from Sept. 3–5, 2026, at Kalkhote Beach.

The festival features a variety of cultural attractions, including Isosolo, a traditional dance performed on boats, sago grub harvesting, traditional sago processing, music and dance performances, folk stories, handicrafts, and traditional cuisine.

Fakhiri also called on local governments, customary leaders, businesses, academics, artists, women, young people, communities, the media, and the public to participate in developing Papua’s cultural and economic potential.

“Papua will progress when we move forward together, hand in hand, in the spirit of mutual cooperation, brotherhood, and mutual respect,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Lake Sentani Festival would become a space for interaction, cultural pride, creativity, and community economic growth. Fakhiri also praised the Ondofolo, Ondoafi, and Khoselo customary leaders for maintaining peace and security, ensuring that the festival opening took place safely and peacefully. ***