Indonesia celebrates New Year on 1 January, a national public holiday marked by midnight fireworks and family gatherings. It also observes three other new years as public holidays: Chinese New Year (Imlek), the Saka New Year (Nyepi) and the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram), each dated annually by joint ministerial decree.
When is New Year in Indonesia?
New Year's Day (Tahun Baru Masehi) is always 1 January and is always a national public holiday. In 2027 it falls on a Friday, creating a long weekend.
Indonesia's national holidays and collective leave days (cuti bersama) are fixed each year by a joint decree (SKB) of the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Minister of Manpower and the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform. The 2026 SKB was signed in September 2025 and the 2027 SKB on 15 September 2026. Neither year has a collective leave day attached to 1 January.
What other new years are public holidays in Indonesia?
Indonesia recognises four new years as national holidays, reflecting its religious diversity: the Gregorian, Chinese, Saka (Balinese Hindu) and Islamic (Hijri) new years.
| Holiday | 2026 date (SKB 2026) | 2027 date (SKB 2027) | Collective leave (cuti bersama) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (Tahun Baru Masehi) | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January | None in either year |
| Chinese New Year (Imlek) | Tuesday 17 February (2577 Kongzili) | Saturday 6 February (2578 Kongzili) | Monday 16 Feb 2026; Friday 5 Feb 2027 |
| Day of Silence, Saka New Year (Nyepi) | Thursday 19 March (Saka 1948) | Monday 8 March (Saka 1949) | Wednesday 18 Mar 2026; none in 2027 |
| Islamic New Year (1 Muharram) | Tuesday 16 June (1448 Hijri) | Sunday 6 June (1449 Hijri) | None in either year |
Because the Chinese, Saka and Hijri calendars are lunar or lunisolar, these dates move every year. Our full Indonesia national holidays calendar lists every holiday and collective leave day.
How is New Year's Eve celebrated in Indonesia?
New Year's Eve is a social, not religious, occasion: crowds gather in city squares, beaches and malls for countdowns and fireworks, while many families hold a simple meal at home.
Jakarta hosts public events along main boulevards, at waterfront parks and in shopping districts, with fireworks at midnight. Bali's beach towns fill with parties and hotel events. In Yogyakarta and Central Java, some people head to hills and temple areas for the first sunrise. Many families grill fish or chicken together at home (bakar-bakaran).
Practical points for visitors:
- Expect heavy traffic and full flights in late December, when the Christmas holiday on 25 December adds to demand.
- Book accommodation early in Bali, Yogyakarta and other popular destinations.
- Banks and government offices close on 1 January; many restaurants, malls and tourist sites stay open.
How are Imlek, Nyepi and 1 Muharram observed?
Imlek is festive and family-centred, Nyepi is a day of complete silence in Bali, and 1 Muharram is a quieter time of reflection and prayer.
- Imlek (Chinese New Year). Chinese-Indonesian families visit relatives, decorate homes in red, give red envelopes (angpao) and attend temple prayers. Lion dances appear in malls and in Glodok, Jakarta's Chinatown.
- Nyepi (Saka New Year). In Bali, the eve brings ogoh-ogoh effigy parades. On Nyepi itself, Hindus observe the Catur Brata Penyepian: no fire or lights, no work, no travel and no entertainment. Visitors stay in their hotels and normal activity largely stops.
- 1 Muharram (Islamic New Year). Muslims mark the Hijri new year with prayers and, in some regions, torch processions. In Javanese tradition the same night is 1 Suro, observed with ritual walks around the palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.
What should businesses plan around New Year holidays?
Plan payroll, tax payments and staffing early: holidays and collective leave days compress working weeks, and the year-end period coincides with closing the books.
- Tax payment deadlines. Under PMK 81 of 2024, monthly income tax is generally paid by the 15th and reported by the 20th of the following month. The Directorate General of Taxes explains that if a monthly payment deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, national holiday or collective leave day, payment may be made on the next working day. Annual deadlines do not shift in the same way. See also our guide to the Directorate General of Taxes in Indonesia.
- Year-end close. December payroll, withholding and annual reporting preparation cluster around 1 January. Individual annual returns are due within three months of the year end; our guide to filing individual tax returns in Indonesia covers the steps.
- Collective leave. The SKB states that collective leave reduces employees' annual leave entitlement, and that private employers decide how to apply it. Confirm the policy with staff before the year starts.
- Essential services. Hospitals, utilities, banks and transport operators must roster staff for holidays.
How can finance teams prepare for the year-end?
Start early: New Year in Indonesia is a time to celebrate, and a busy one for finance teams. If your company wants its year-end close, monthly tax payments and annual filings timed around the holiday calendar, JCSS Indonesia offers tax compliance and audit readiness support that keeps deadlines and documentation in order.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 January a public holiday in Indonesia?
Yes. New Year's Day (Tahun Baru Masehi) on 1 January is a national public holiday every year under the joint ministerial decree on holidays. Government offices, schools and banks close, while many shops, restaurants and tourist attractions stay open. In 2026 it fell on a Thursday, and in 2027 it falls on a Friday. Neither year has a collective leave day attached.
When is Chinese New Year in Indonesia in 2027?
Chinese New Year (Imlek 2578 Kongzili) falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, according to the 2027 joint ministerial decree. The government has also set Friday 5 February 2027 as a collective leave day. In 2026, Imlek 2577 Kongzili was on Tuesday 17 February, with collective leave on Monday 16 February.
When is Nyepi in 2027?
Nyepi, the Day of Silence marking Saka New Year 1949, falls on Monday 8 March 2027 under the 2027 joint ministerial decree, with no collective leave day attached. In 2026, Nyepi (Saka 1948) was on Thursday 19 March, with collective leave on Wednesday 18 March. In Bali, nearly all activity stops for the day.
When is the Islamic New Year in Indonesia?
The Islamic New Year, 1 Muharram 1449 Hijri, falls on Sunday 6 June 2027 according to the 2027 joint ministerial decree. In 2026, 1 Muharram 1448 Hijri was on Tuesday 16 June. Because the Hijri calendar is lunar, the date moves earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar, so always check the current year's decree.
Does collective leave (cuti bersama) count against annual leave?
Yes. The joint ministerial decree states that collective leave reduces employees' annual leave entitlement under the applicable rules, and that private employers set how it is applied in their own organisations. Companies should state their approach in the employment policy or company regulation and communicate it to staff at the start of each year.
General information only, not legal or tax advice for your specific facts. Regulations change; confirm the current position with JCSS Indonesia before acting.