TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Press Day (HPN) 2026 will be celebrated on Monday, February 9, 2026. Banten has been selected as the host city for HPN. The series of HPN 2026 activities will be held from February 6-9, 2026.
HPN 2026 has the theme "Healthy Press, Sovereign Economy, Strong Nation." The series of HPN 2026 events was held at Serang City Square on November 30, 2025. The series of events also included a fun walk held in the Serang KP3B area. The culminating event will be held at the KP3B Mosque Field in Serang City on February 9, 2026.
As part of the 2026 National Press Day (HPN) series, a national media convention for National Press Day 2026 was held with the theme "Press, Imitative Reason (AI), and Building an Information Ecosystem for the Public Interest" at the Aston Serang Hotel, Banten, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
At the convention, the Indonesian Press Community presented the 2026 National Press Declaration. The Declaration affirmed press professionalism, protection for journalists, and demands for responding to the rise of AI.
Here are some details about HPN:
1. History of HPN
The history of HPN's establishment on February 9 cannot be separated from the founding of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) on February 9, 1946. However, many press communities debated the determination of HPN. In 2018, for example, the then-chairman of the AJI Solo, Adib Muttaqin Asfar, stated that National Press Day (HPN) only emerged during the New Order era through Presidential Decree Number 5 of 1985, signed by President Soeharto. This decision was based on a recommendation from the 21st Press Council meeting in Bandung on February 19, 1981, which approved the establishment of National Press Day.
The idea of establishing a historic day for the role of the national press emerged from one of the decisions of the 16th PWI Congress in Padang on December 4, 1978. The government ultimately designated February 9, PWI's anniversary, as National Press Day.
However, there are many other historical moments in Indonesia that could be considered as press days. These include the founding date of Medan Prijaji, the first indigenous media outlet, on January 1, 1907, or the birth date of Tirto Adhi Soerjo, the father of the press and a national awakening figure, on December 7, 1918.
2. Theme of National Press Day 2026
According to the official Banten Province portal, the theme of National Press Day 2026 is "Healthy Press, Sovereign Economy, Strong Nation." Juhan serves as the mascot for National Press Day 2026. The name Juhan is an acronym for "Si Jurnalis Handal," which is embodied in the image of the Javan Rhinoceros or One-Horned Rhinoceros, an endemic animal known for its resilience and unyielding spirit.
3. National Press Declaration 2026
In anticipation of National Press Day 2026 on February 9, 2026, the Press Council and the Ministry of Communication and Digital held the 2026 National Press Day Mass Media Convention with the theme "Press, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Building an Information Ecosystem for the Public Interest" at the Aston Serang Hotel, Banten, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
At the Convention, the Indonesian Press Community urged digital technology platforms, including AI platforms, to provide fair compensation for the use of journalistic works as data sources. Press Council Deputy Chairman Totok Suryanto stated that AI platforms must also cite media sources when using journalists' data.
"The AI platform must also include traceable media sources in every output of various journalistic works," said Totok at the Aston Hotel, Banten, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
This request is one of the eight points of the 2026 National Press Declaration, themed "Free Press, Sustainable Media, and Safeguarded Democracy," read by Totok at the Aston Hotel, Banten, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Totok stated that the Indonesian Press affirms its commitment to continuing to operate professionally. The Indonesian Press also adheres to the journalistic code of ethics and company standards as stipulated in Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.
The Indonesian Press Community is a coalition of press organizations consisting of the Press Council, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), the Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI), the Indonesian Local Television Association (ATVLI), the Indonesian Private Television Association (ATSI), the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI), and the Indonesian National Private Radio Broadcasting Association.
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