LABUAN BAJO, June 5, 2026 – The organizing committee of the Golo Koe Festival 2026 has officially announced the theme and lineup of events for this year’s festival. The festival, which has become a premier annual event in Labuan Bajo, is themed “A Communal Pilgrimage in Synergistic Fellowship to Preserve the Integrity of Creation.”
This year’s theme emphasizes that the Golo Koe Festival is not merely a routine event, but rather an inclusive and synodal communal spiritual pilgrimage. The festival’s central icon, Our Lady of the Assumption, serves as a symbol of hope for humanity on its pilgrimage toward the fullness of life in the Creator.
An in-depth explanation of this theme encompasses several key values. First, synodality and inclusivity—embracing ethnic and religious differences in a spirit of brotherhood and tolerance within our “common home.” Second, tourism as an encounter—understanding tourism as a pilgrimage of encounter between people, cultures, and nature. Third, the integrity of creation: emphasizing sustainable tourism that cares for nature and preserves the environment for the common good (bonum commune). Fourth, cultural richness and participation: Rooted in local wisdom and ensuring that local communities are actively and creatively involved in the tourism ecosystem.
Schedule of Events for the 2026 Golo Koe Festival
The festival will take place in two major phases, beginning with religious processions at the parish level and culminating in a week-long celebration in Labuan Bajo. The inter-parish “Maria Assumpta Nusantara” procession will take place from July 1 through August 5, 2026. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be carried by sea and land, visiting 26 parishes throughout the Diocese of Labuan Bajo.
Next, the festival’s peak week will be August 10–15, 2026. All activities will be centered at Waterfront City Marina and Bukit Golo Koe in Labuan Bajo.
The daily schedule for the peak week includes:
- August 10: Opening of the Creative Economy MSME Exhibition and the Archipelago’s Cultural Arts Festival.
- August 11: Catholic Spiritual Revival, as well as Environmental Education and Action (mangrove planting and coral reef rehabilitation).
- August 12: Charitable Social Activities (free health checkups), Cultural Carnival, and the Maria Assumpta Nusantara Mass Dance.
- August 13: Manggarai Cultural Theater and Caci Performance by students.
- August 14: Grand Procession of Maria Assumpta Nusantara, including a sea procession aboard pinisi ships and a land procession passing through seven stations.
- August 15: Independent Spiritual Pilgrimage, Grand Mass for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, and a closing ceremony featuring a fireworks display and a music concert.
The festival is expected to attract 50,000 visitors, ranging from local residents and people of various faiths to international tourists. Through this series of events, it is hoped that the local creative economy will grow and the spirit of brotherhood will be further strengthened. The 2026 edition marks the fifth year of the Golo Koe Festival. Beginning as an initiative to blend spirituality with the richness of local culture, the festival has continued to grow into a prestigious national event. It has achieved notable success over the past two years, consistently ranking among the top 10 on the Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) list curated by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Heribertus Ratu,
Publications and Promotion Section of the Golo Koe Festival 2026 Organizing Committee
Website: festivalgolokoe.com
