Indonesian Podcast Festival 2026 to Tour Nationally

The Indonesian Podcast Festival (IPF) 2026 is set to embark on a nationwide tour, aiming to decentralize the podcasting scene and foster a broader ecosystem beyond its current stronghold in Jakarta. Organized by Close The Door and Double Group, the festival's "Infinity Story" concept seeks to bring podcast creators and their audiences together for a more tangible experience.

Kicking off in Makassar on October 24-25, 2026, the IPF roadshow will continue to Medan, Banjarmasin, Surabaya, and finally Jakarta. Deddy Corbuzier, founder of Close The Door, emphasized that the festival is designed as a direct meeting point, transforming the primarily digital podcast experience into a live, observable event. "This is not just a festival, but a real meeting between creators and their listeners," he stated.

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Indonesian Podcast Festival becomes a moment when the world of podcasts, which has only been heard so far, can finally be felt and witnessed directly. This is not just a festival, but a real meeting between creators and their listeners.

The initiative is fueled by Indonesia's robust podcast listenership. A February 2025 report indicated that 42.6% of Indonesian respondents regularly consume podcasts weekly, significantly higher than the global average of 22.1% for internet users aged 16 and above. Despite this large audience, the production and ecosystem of podcasts remain heavily concentrated in Jakarta.

Dr. Ichal Tawil, founder of Double Group, explained that Makassar was chosen as the first stop due to its burgeoning podcast creator and listener community, particularly in Eastern Indonesia. "We believe the podcast creator and listener ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia is ready for its own stage," Tawil said, positioning IPF as a foundational step towards a sustainable national podcast festival. The festival will feature a "One Stage & Infinity Story" format, uniting national podcasters with local talents, alongside interactive sessions like Q&A talks, blind podcasts with secret guests, and stand-up comedy.

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Makassar was chosen as the first city because we believe the creator and listener podcast ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia is ready for its own stage. IPF is the first step in our big vision to build a sustainable national podcast festival.