Indonesia has officially launched the Indonesian International Latin Festival & Asia-Pacific Salsa Summit 2026, marking the country’s first international Latin dance festival and competition to host the official Asia-Pacific Summit International Competition.
Held from 30 July to 3 August 2026 at the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, the five-day event is organised by Zigzag Indonesia and Tiara Josodirdjo & Associates (TJA). Carrying the theme Where Latin Passion Meets the Spirit of Indonesia, the festival combines Latin dance with Indonesian culture through competitions, workshops, performances, social dancing and networking sessions involving dancers, instructors, judges, DJs and artists from across the Asia-Pacific region.
The festival is supported by Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy and the Ministry of Tourism as part of broader efforts to promote cultural diplomacy while strengthening the country’s tourism and creative economy sectors.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy and Deputy Head of the Indonesian Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, said the festival provides an international platform for artists and communities to exchange knowledge and build stronger connections.
“The Indonesian International Latin Festival & Asia-Pacific Salsa Summit 2026 provides a platform for artists, instructors, dancers, and communities from various countries to collaborate, compete, and exchange cultures. Dance is a vital part of the creative economy, capable of fostering talent development, cultural diplomacy, and sustainable economic growth, while strengthening Indonesia’s performing arts ecosystem and positioning Indonesia as a world-class cultural and creative destination. Therefore, we welcome international participants and encourage all competitors to uphold good sportsmanship and enjoy the learning process.”
Indonesia Secures Official Summit Championship Licence
The inaugural festival is expected to attract between 300 and 500 participants, with around 70 per cent travelling from overseas. Organisers expect competitors and delegates from Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, New Zealand and several other countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
A key milestone for the event is Indonesia’s official licence from The Summit Championship in New York, allowing the country to host the Asia-Pacific Summit International Competition. The recognition makes Indonesia the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to stage an official Summit Championship event.
Billy Fajardo, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of The Summit Championship in New York, said Indonesia had demonstrated its potential to become an important destination for Latin dance in the region.
“Indonesia has demonstrated incredible passion, commitment, and potential to become a premier Latin dance destination in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, we are proud to grant the official licence to the Indonesian International Latin Festival & Asia-Pacific Salsa Summit as the first organiser of The Summit Championship in Indonesia and the first in the Asia-Pacific region.
This partnership is not just about presenting a competition, but also the beginning of a long-term commitment to developing talent, strengthening the Latin dance community in the region, and opening up more collaboration opportunities for dancers on world-class stages. We believe Indonesia has all the elements needed to become an international centre for Latin dance, and we are optimistic that this festival will continue to grow into a prestigious event that strengthens Indonesia’s position on the global Latin dance map.”
Organisers Aim to Build a Regional Latin Dance Hub
Executive Producer Tiara Josodirdjo said the festival was created with a long-term vision of establishing Indonesia as a meeting point for the global Latin dance community.
“Indonesia has great potential to become a hub for the Latin dance community in the Asia-Pacific region. Through the Indonesian International Latin Festival & Asia-Pacific Salsa Summit 2026, we want to introduce Indonesia as a destination not only rich in culture and creative talent, but also capable of hosting international-standard dance events. We are proud to be the first country to do so.”
Festival Director Ferdiansah Dela said the event is intended to strengthen Indonesia’s Latin dance ecosystem and encourage greater collaboration within the performing arts sector.
Throughout the festival, participants are taking part in the Asia-Pacific Summit International Competition, Salsa and Bachata competitions, workshops led by international instructors, performances, social dancing sessions, networking activities and an after-party. The event also features judges, instructors and DJs from the United States, Mexico, Spain, Australia, Japan and several other countries.
