Jakarta joins World Cities Culture Forum
Indonesia’s largest city and the economic hub of Southeast Asia joins our global network of civic leaders
Today Jakarta, Indonesia’s largest city and the economic hub of Southeast Asia, joins World Cities Culture Forum’s network of 40+ cities.
The announcement coincides with Jakarta’s celebration of its 497th anniversary on 22 June.
City leaders in Jakarta will work alongside counterparts from more than 40 cities, including Bengaluru, Buenos Aires, London, New York and Tokyo to place culture at the heart of the city’s growth and investment. The city will also feature in the World Cities Culture Report 2025, the most comprehensive dataset for culture and cities with 65 indicators, published every three years.
“I’m delighted that Jakarta has become the first city from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to join our leading network of global creative cities and civic leaders.”
Justine Simons OBE, Founder and Chair of World Cities Culture Forum
Commenting today, the Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Culture Service, Iwan Henry Wardhana, said:
“By joining this leading global culture network, we hope that Jakarta can develop a city strategy based on cultural tourism, thereby strengthening its position as a leading cultural destination that welcomes tourists from all over the world and growing the attractiveness and reputation of Jakarta as a global city.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, London; Founder and Chair, World Cities Culture Forum, said:
“I’m delighted that Jakarta has become the first city from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to join our leading network of global creative cities and civic leaders. Culture is an essential ingredient in the success of cities, bringing together communities and helping to drive economies. Through the World Cities Culture Forum we are using its power to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. We look forward to working closely with Jakarta to support its growth as a global capital for culture.”
About Jakarta
Jakarta is a bustling metropolis with a population exceeding 10 million, serving as Indonesia’s financial, commercial, and entertainment hub. Situated in northwest Java, the city is a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, and religions, attracting migrants from across Indonesia.
Publishing, film, music, and tech are currently the main drivers of Jakarta’s creative economy. In 2021, Jakarta was designated a UNESCO City of Literature. Its annual International Literary Festival draws together hundreds of people to celebrate contemporary ASEAN writing.
Jakarta’s tech sector is booming, with startups more than doubling from 173 in 2019 to over 400 in 2021. The city is also focused on climate initiatives, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 and integrating climate action into development processes.
The city is home to over 50 museums which play a key role in preserving traditional Indonesian artistic practices. The Wayang Museum, showcasing Wayang Kulit puppetry (flat leather shadow puppets), holds UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status.
