More than 7,000 visitors attended the inaugural Tomohon Jazz Festival, held on 23–24 October 2026 at Taman Kelong, Metland Marron Hotel, in Tomohon, North Sulawesi. Set against the backdrop of Mount Lokon, the two-day festival combined live music with family activities, local food, arts, and cultural performances.
The music lineup featured Indonesian artists including Kahitna, Maliq & D’Essentials, Andien, Kunto Aji, Ardhito Pramono, Nadin Amizah, Rony Parulian, Idgitaf, and Wizz Baker. Local acts LS Band, Ever Salikara, Donfree, Kaban, and Jarvvv also took the stage.
Across the two days, the festival featured performances by Kahitna, Maliq & D’Essentials, Andien, Kunto Aji, Ardhito Pramono, Nadin Amizah, Rony Parulian, and Wizz Baker. Local acts LS Band, Ever Salikara, Donfree, Kaban, and Jarvvv also joined the lineup, bringing together musicians from across Indonesia for the festival.
More to Explore Beyond the Main Stage
Beyond the main stage, visitors could take part in activities throughout the day. Pilates & Yoga Manado held Mat Pilates sessions on the first day and Hatha Yoga on the second, both in the open-air grounds of Taman Kelong.
Yayasan Masarang also set up Titik Tumbuh, an activity area connecting art, local culture, and environmental education. Visitors could make pressed-flower souvenirs at the Bloom & Create workshop, try the traditional kolintang instrument through Denyut Minahasa, and explore works at the Art for Conservation exhibition.
Other activities included Jeda Tawa, a stand-up comedy session featuring local comedians, and Pojok Interaktif Akar Masalah, an educational game covering waste management, conservation, and restoration.
Warna Warga invited visitors to contribute to a shared canvas, while Kumpul Bocah provided a dedicated play area for children. The Taste of Tomohon food section also offered local culinary options.
Putting Tomohon on the Tourism Map
Metland Marron Hotel Tomohon initiated the festival as part of the opening celebrations for the city’s first four-star hotel, developed through a collaboration between Karyadeka Group and Metland Group.
The initiative aims to introduce Tomohon through more than North Sulawesi’s better-known urban and marine destinations. Its mountain landscapes, local cuisine, and Minahasan arts and culture are among the attractions the festival seeks to bring to a wider audience.
“Tomohon has considerable tourism potential that deserves to be developed,” said Wahyu Sulistio, Director of PT Metropolitan Karyadeka Tomohon. He described music as one way to introduce the city to a broader audience.
Environmental awareness was also part of the event through Yayasan Masarang’s Less Waste Festival initiative, which encouraged visitors to sort and dispose of their waste in designated areas to keep the festival grounds clean.
By bringing together live performances, family activities, local cuisine, and cultural showcases, Tomohon Jazz Festival adds a new event to North Sulawesi’s tourism calendar. Its inaugural edition also offers a platform to introduce Tomohon’s natural and cultural attractions to visitors from beyond the city.
