Tomini Bay Festival 2025, a cultural celebration and environmental education

The Tomini Bay Festival returned to Kayubura Beach in Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi Province on Nov. 20–22, 2025, at . The festival's theme for this year, "A Gift from the Sea," combines the natural richness and maritime culture of Tomini Bay with environmental education.

Tomini Bay is one of the largest bays in Indonesia. It stretches across the provinces of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and North Sulawesi, and encompasses approximately 90 small islands rich in marine biodiversity. 

Tomini Bay is also known as the heart of the World's Coral Triangle thanks to its rich coral reefs covering over 1,000 hectares (ha), which provide habitat for hundreds of endemic coral species and marine life.

However, the coastal communities and marine ecosystems around Tomini Bay has faced several challenges over time, ranging from environmental degradation and climate change to a declining awareness of local culture.

The Tomini Bay Festival is expected to address these challenges. This year's edition of the festival has five main objectives: preserving and promoting local culture, strengthening sustainable tourism, raising environmental awareness, boosting the economy of coastal communities, and cultivating the regional identity.

Tomini Bay Festival 2025 is divided into two main pillars, namely cultural celebration and environmental responsibility. This allows visitors to enjoy the marine beauty of Tomini Bay from both a cultural and conservation perspective.

By adhering to hygiene, health, security, and safety standards to create an inclusive, environmentally friendly, and sustainable festival, Tomini Bay Festival 2025 is expected to achieve its target of 8,000 to 12,000 local visitors, 3,000 national visitors, and 50 international tourists.

According to information posted on the Tomini Bay Festival's Instagram account, acitivities offered at the festival include a Fun Walk, a Marine Photo Contest, the Tomini Fashion Carnival, a Decorated Boat Contest, a Youth and Environmental Activism Camp, a Drum Band Contest, and Community Performances and Cultural Dialogue.

In addition, there are Traditional Sports Competitions, Zumba, Fishing Competitions, Final Performances of the Artists Enter School Movement (GSMS), Kuntau Baba Traditional Silat Performances, On The Spot Photo and Video Competitions, and Gampiri Cultural Performances that showcase the rich traditions of coastal communities.