Group of Francophone Ambassadors (GAF) attending the official opening of Francophonie Week in Institut français d’Indonésie, Jakarta on April 20, 2026. (SEA Daily/Sadina Aimee)
Francophonie Week 2026 officially opened in Jakarta on April 20 and will run until April 24, bringing together diplomatic representatives and cultural communities from French-speaking countries. The opening ceremony took place at Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI) in Jakarta, where ambassadors from several Francophone nations delivered welcoming remarks to mark the beginning of the annual celebration.
Among the speakers was the French Ambassador to Indonesia, Fabien Penone, who highlighted the importance of language as a bridge to the wider world. He emphasised that learning languages allows individuals to connect across cultures and expand their global perspective. According to the ambassador, Francophonie Week does not simply promote the French language but also celebrates linguistic diversity and recognises the richness of different languages spoken across various nations.
The ceremony concluded with a musical performance that blended Arab and French influences. The concert featured Tunisian duo Dorsaf Hamdani and Zied Zouari, known as Avec le temps. Their performance marked the start of their tour in Indonesia and was accompanied by Indonesian pianist Sri Hanuraga.
Francophonie Week in Indonesia is organised by 18 embassies representing countries where French is either official language or has significant speaking population: Armenia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Egypt, Hungary, Morocco, Mexico, Romania, Rwanda, Seychelles, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine and Uruguay.
This year’s celebration will take place across nine cities in Indonesia, expanding the programme beyond Jakarta to reach wider audiences through cultural and educational activities.
The Francophonie Week also coincides with Kartini Day on April 21, Indonesia’s annual commemoration of women’s emancipation. A series of conferences and workshops will explore themes related to women’s empowerment and the legacy of the national heroine.
Beyond discussions, the week features film screenings from Francophone countries, visual exhibitions, discussions, and creative workshops. The celebration highlights the wider reach of the French language, which is spoken by nearly 400 million people across five continents.
International Francophonie Day itself is observed every March 20, marking the founding of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie in 1970. Today, the organisation brings together 93 member states and governments committed to promoting cultural diversity, education, peace, and international cooperation.
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