Bintan District Government held this year’s Bintan Durian Festival on July 26, 2026 to promote the region’s cultural heritage and showcase its signature durian tradition. (Diskominfo Bintan)
On July 26, hundreds of visitors gathered in Bintan, Riau Island Province, Indonesia, for the 2026 Bintan Durian Feast and Festival, an annual event aimed at celebrating the island’s renowned durian daun (Durio oxleyanus) while promoting its tourism and cultural heritage.
Opening the festival, Bintan District Head Roby Kurniawan said the occasion represents far more than the annual durian harvest. He described it as an expression of gratitude rooted in Malay tradition, while also serving to strengthen community ties and preserve local customs.
The festival highlighted Bintan’s distinctive durian daun, a local variety recognised for its relatively small size and unusually long spikes. Kurniawan said the district government hopes to raise the fruit’s international profile by positioning it as one of Bintan’s signature culinary attractions.
Around 650 people took part in this year’s celebration, including visitors from Malaysia and the Netherlands, demonstrating the event’s growing international appeal. Participants began the programme with a trek to Mount Bintan before taking part in a traditional communal durian feast, where guests sat together on the floor to share the fruit in keeping with local custom.
The district administration plans to continue organising promotional events alongside programmes that strengthen agriculture and assist small and medium-sized enterprises, ensuring local produce benefits from rising visitor numbers.
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