Indonesia

Dieng Culture Festival 2027: the ruwatan haircut for children with matted hair, est. late August

At a glance

Dates: Next: 27–29 August 2027 (est.)
Where: Dieng Plateau, Central Java, on the Wonosobo–Banjarnegara line
Getting there: Drive from Yogyakarta via Magelang and Wonosobo, about 4–5 hours
Cost: Participant packages from Rp500,000 (2026)
Limits: Packages were not transferable or refundable (2026 rules)

The 2026 edition has passed

Dates last checked: 13 October 2026

The festival

Illustration of Dieng Culture Festival 2027: the ruwatan haircut for children with matted hair, est. late August, Dieng, Central Java

Each child names a wish before the matted hair is cut

Some children in Dieng grow matted hair, known as gimbal, often after a high fever. The festival centres on ruwatan, the ritual that cuts it off. The 2026 programme also included a cultural parade (kirab budaya), a lantern festival, the Batur sheep festival and a Dieng coffee festival.

Before the cut, each child names a wish, and the family has to grant it during the ritual. The children are bathed (jamasan) with water from the Sendang Sedayu spring, and the hair is cut at the Arjuna temple complex. It then goes into an earthenware jar and is usually released at Telaga Warna.

The 2026 Dieng Culture Festival opened on the evening of 28 August with the Jazz Atas Awan concert, followed by the Harmoni Dieng show on the 29th, under the theme "Spirit of Harmony". It is organised by the Banjarnegara regency government and Pokdarwis Dieng Pandawa, the tourism group of Dieng Kulon village, and is listed in the tourism ministry's Kharisma Event Nusantara calendar.

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Booking

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Prices and ratings checked 13 Oct 2026

Tickets and tours

Central Java, Indonesia
Dieng Plateau day tour from Yogyakarta
Outside festival days, a same-day round trip from Yogyakarta to the Dieng Plateau: private tour, about 14 hours, with sunrise at Sikunir Hill.
Via Klook · ★4.6 (55 reviews)
from NT$379
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Details

Getting into the haircut ritual area takes a participant package tied to the name on your ID and not transferable. The jazz and the lantern release are outdoors at night, on a plateau where frost can form.

Where to buy the participant package

The 2026 participant packages were sold at festivaldieng.id, partner ticketing platforms and partner travel agents, and the organisers asked buyers to stick to official channels. Bronze, Silver and Gold cost Rp500,000, Rp600,000 and Rp700,000 and differ only in merchandise. Every tier includes the festival wristband, accident insurance, entry to the haircut ritual, a Kawah Sikidang ticket, batik cloth, a caping hat, a lantern and a voucher for local small businesses (UMKM).

The name on the order must match your ID, and you need a WhatsApp number and an email address. Payment is by QRIS only and the payment code lasts 30 minutes. Packages cannot be transferred or resold, and cancellations are not refunded. To collect your wristband, bring your ID and e-ticket, and redeem all packages in one order together. The organisers announce 2027 prices and sale dates separately.

Dates

The festival ran on 23–24 August in 2025 and 28–30 August in 2026, both late-August weekends. The 2027 dates are not out yet, and this page expects around 27–29 August. The organisers' announcement on festivaldieng.id fixes the exact dates.

Getting up to the plateau

The Dieng Plateau straddles Wonosobo and Banjarnegara regencies, about 27 km from central Wonosobo. From Yogyakarta the usual route runs via Magelang and Wonosobo and takes about 4–5 hours. From Semarang, via Temanggung and Wonosobo, it takes about as long. The roads are steep and winding, so check the vehicle if you hire a car. By public transport, go to Mendolo bus terminal in Wonosobo and change to a local minibus.

Cold at altitude

The plateau sits at about 2,000–2,100 m. August is dry season, and nights can drop close to freezing. Evening events such as Jazz Atas Awan and the lantern release are outdoors and mean hours standing in the cold, so bring a down jacket, hat and gloves.

Etiquette at the haircut ritual

The haircut is a ruwatan these families hold for their children, and in 2026 the ritual area was open to participant-package holders. Stay quiet, do not block the families or the elders leading the rite when taking photos, and do not step into the ritual space for a close-up.

Good to know

Location: Dieng Plateau, Central Java, about 2,000–2,100 m up, straddling Wonosobo and Banjarnegara regencies
Core ritual: Ruwatan, the haircut for children with naturally matted hair (rambut gimbal)
Tickets: In 2026 the full programme required a participant package, sold at festivaldieng.id, partner ticketing platforms and partner travel agents
Night cold: In July 2025 the Banjarnegara weather station recorded minimums of about 2–6 °C around the plateau, with frost on the grass at the Arjuna temples
Getting there: Dieng is about 27 km from central Wonosobo. From Yogyakarta via Magelang and Wonosobo it takes about 4–5 hours

FAQ

Do I need a ticket, and where do I buy it?

Yes. In 2026 the full programme required a participant package, sold at festivaldieng.id, partner ticketing platforms and partner travel agents. Bronze, Silver and Gold cost Rp500,000, Rp600,000 and Rp700,000 and differ only in merchandise. All include entry to the haircut ritual and a Kawah Sikidang ticket. Payment is by QRIS only, the payment code lasts 30 minutes, and packages cannot be transferred or refunded.

What is the gimbal haircut ritual?

Gimbal is the matted hair some Dieng children develop, often after a high fever. Ruwatan cuts it off, and the child's wish has to be granted before the cut.

What happens to the cut hair?

It goes into an earthenware jar and is released into water, usually at Telaga Warna. Locals hold that it travels by river to the southern sea.

How do I get up to Dieng?

From Yogyakarta or Semarang the road climbs via Wonosobo, steep and winding. By public transport, go to Mendolo bus terminal in Wonosobo and change to a local minibus.