Medan to Host 8th Gelar Melayu Serumpun with Global Guests

TheIndonesia.co - The city of Medan is preparing to host the 8th Gelar Melayu Serumpun, a vibrant cultural event celebrating shared Malay heritage, from May 21th to 24th, 2025. This year’s celebration has been officially recognized as part of the Kharisma Event Nusantara 2025 by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

According to Antara News Agency, Agus Suriyono, Assistant for Economic Development in the Medan City Government, shared during a coordination meeting that 29 delegations—from both within Indonesia and abroad—are confirmed to take part in the festivities.

Among the 20 domestic delegations are cities and regions such as Sabang, Langsa, Aceh Singkil, North Aceh, East Aceh, Langkat, Binjai, Deliserdang, Serdangbedagai, Asahan, and Labuhanbatu Utara, as well as Sibolga, Batam, Dumai, Musi Banyuasin, Jakarta, Bandung, and Pontianak.

International participants will come from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Sarawak, Johor, Selangor, Melaka, Singapore, Thailand, and India, adding a global flavor to the event. Agus noted that logistics are being carefully prepared, especially for the arrival and return of international delegates.

Held seven times previously, Gelar Melayu Serumpun is a platform to promote Medan’s tourism, while also celebrating and preserving Malay arts and culture. It serves as a way to connect communities across provinces and countries that share Malay roots, and to strengthen cultural bonds and friendship.

Agus emphasized that beyond entertainment, the event is about honoring the pride, dignity, and identity of the Malay people through art, music, and traditional performances. At the same time, it also introduces Malay culture to non-Malay communities, both locally and internationally, creating a deeper appreciation and understanding of one another.

The event also supports Medan’s creative economy, by giving space to showcase local products and promote the city’s cultural and economic strengths.

Finally, Agus called on all stakeholders and related institutions to work together to ensure the success of the event.

“This celebration is not only for cultural pride, but also to entertain the public and boost tourism in Medan,” he said.