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The 2025 Baliem Valley Cultural Festival set a new record according to the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) for its simultaneous performance of 1,500 traditional Pikon musicians and Etai dancers.
The 33rd Baliem Valley Cultural Festival was held in Wamena, Papua Mountains, as a marathon from August 7-9, 2025. This year's edition of the event also achieved its highest attendance of all time.
Baliem Valley Cultural Festival 2025 is the largest cultural event in Papua, with thousands of local and international tourists attending.
Papuan community leader Maximus Tipagau welcomed the MURI record. He believes that the Baliem Valley Festival is a cultural asset that must be preserved and developed with the goal of introducing Papua to the world.
The man who is also known as Maximus Gladiator Papua stated that the event could significantly boost the local economy, with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) having experienced a significant surge in demand.
"Both traditional market vendors and those setting up stalls around the event location have experienced a drastic increase in revenue. Local products such as handicrafts, Papuan culinary specialties, traditional clothing, and cultural souvenirs are all highly sought after by tourists and [thus] selling well," he explained.
Maximus found that revealed that many foreign tourists were enthusiastic about interacting directly with local artisans, purchasing handmade products while delving into the philosophy and cultural values they contain.
He hopes that with this year's success, the Jayawijaya Regional Government and the Highland Papua Provincial Government will commit to continuous development of the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival.
"Going forward, the festival is expected to further strengthen Papua's position in global tourism, become a platform for cultural preservation, and [be] a means of empowering the local economy," he concluded.
The event was officially opened by Jayawijaya Regent Athenius Murib, who was accompanied Deputy Regent Ronny Elopere, Highland Papua Deputy Governor Ones Pahabol, and Papuan community leader Maximus Tipagau.
The festival was first held in 1989 as an effort to introduce the culture of the Dani, Lani, and Yali tribes to both national and international audiences. The Baliem Valley Festival has now become a global icon of Papuan culture.
Each year, the festival features a variety of cultural attractions, including traditional combat performances, traditional dances, local music, craft exhibitions, cultural parades, and culinary delights.
This year, organizers are presenting special programs such as cultural workshops and interactive discussions with traditional leaders and local academics.
