The highly anticipated Sidang Isbat, or Islamic new moon confirmation hearing, for the determination of 1 Ramadan 1447 H/2026 M, is set to take an unusual turn this year. Instead of its traditional venue at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office on Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta, the crucial session will be held at the Hotel Borobudur, also in Central Jakarta. This shift marks a notable deviation from past practice.
Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, clarified the reason behind this unexpected change upon his arrival at the Borobudur Hotel on Tuesday, February 17. He explained that ongoing construction work on Jalan Thamrin, spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works (Kementerian PU), has created significant logistical challenges. “Jalan Thamrin is currently under construction by the Ministry of Public Works, so we have no parking, and it’s quite cramped,” Umar stated. “Therefore, we were concerned about disruptions due to the lack of parking spaces. That’s why we’ve temporarily moved it here this year.”
Minister Umar expressed hopes for a return to the usual venue in the future, emphasizing that the move is purely a “technical factor” to prevent any misinterpretation of the decision. He further assured the public that despite the venue change, preparations for the Sidang Isbat are meticulously complete and mature. “All preparations are finalized, just as they are every year. There are no technical issues, only the location is different,” he added, reinforcing the smooth execution of the session.
Sidang Isbat
The Sidang Isbat, scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, is a vital event where the start of Ramadan is collaboratively determined. This joint meeting, presided over by the Minister of Religious Affairs and leaders from various Islamic organizations, culminates in a shared decision. Indonesia adheres to the MABIMS criteria for establishing the beginning of Hijri months, particularly for Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhu al-Hijjah. This set of criteria is also adopted by neighboring countries like Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, reflecting a regional consensus.
Under the MABIMS criteria, a new Hijri month is officially declared when the height of the hilal (new moon) reaches a minimum of 3 degrees, combined with an elongation angle of 6.4 degrees. Consequently, the Sidang Isbat becomes an indispensable forum, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the House of Representatives (DPR), and various Islamic mass organizations to collectively deliberate and decide the precise commencement of Ramadan.
Muhammadiyah Ramadan 18 Februari
In contrast to the government’s official determination process, the Majelis Tarjih dan Tajdid Muhammadiyah had already independently declared 1 Ramadan 1447 H to fall on February 18, 2026. This decision was formally documented in their letter Number 01/MLM/I.1/B/2026. Interestingly, Muhammadiyah initially set 1 Ramadan for February 19, 2026, but later revised this pronouncement.
The revision by Muhammadiyah followed a thorough re-evaluation of global astronomical data and a stringent validation process against the parameters of the Single Global Hijri Calendar (KHGT). Based on this updated assessment, 1 Ramadan 1447 H was firmly established as Wednesday Legi, February 18, 2026 M. Furthermore, Muhammadiyah’s updated calendar indicates that 1 Syawal 1447 H (Eid al-Fitr) will be observed on Friday, March 20, 2026, diverging from their initially printed calendars which showed 1 Ramadan 1447 H on February 19, 2026.
Summary
The Sidang Isbat to determine 1 Ramadan 1447 H/2026 M will take place at Hotel Borobudur, departing from its traditional venue at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office. Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, clarified that this temporary change is due to ongoing construction on Jalan Thamrin, which creates significant parking and logistical challenges. He emphasized that this is merely a technical adjustment, and all preparations for the session are meticulously complete.
Scheduled for February 17, 2026, the Sidang Isbat is a vital event where the start of Ramadan is collaboratively determined, adhering to the MABIMS criteria used regionally. While the government process concludes then, Muhammadiyah has independently declared 1 Ramadan 1447 H to fall on February 18, 2026. This decision was based on their re-evaluation of global astronomical data and validation against the Single Global Hijri Calendar parameters.