Indonesia

Tabuik 2027 in Pariaman: est. start around 6 June, towers cast into the sea at Gandoriah Beach before sunset

At a glance

Dates: Next: 6 June 2027 (est.)
Where: Pariaman, West Sumatra; the towers go into the sea at Gandoriah Beach
Getting there: Pariaman Ekspres train from Padang, about 1.5 hours
Cost: Free entry (2026)
Limits: Shoulders and knees must be covered at mosques and rite sites

The 2026 edition has passed

Dates last checked: 13 October 2026

The festival

Illustration of Tabuik 2027 in Pariaman: est. start around 6 June, towers cast into the sea at Gandoriah Beach before sunset, Pariaman, West Sumatra

Pariaman's two Tabuik towers end the festival in the sea

During Tabuik, the Pasa and Subarang districts of Pariaman each build a tower. The name comes from the Arabic tabut, a wooden chest. In the legend, the buraq, a winged creature with a human head, carried a chest holding Husayn's body up to heaven, and the towers show the buraq bearing that chest.

Husayn, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, was killed at the battle of Karbala, and Tabuik falls in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, as an Ashura commemoration. Local oral tradition dates its arrival in Pariaman to about 1826–1828, with early influence from Shia Muslims of Indian descent. From 1910 it followed Minangkabau custom, and in 1982 it joined the Padang Pariaman tourism calendar.

The rites begin on 1 Muharram with the taking of soil (maambiak tanah), then the cutting of banana stems, maatam, the parading of the jari-jari and the saroban turban, and finally the assembly of the full tower (naik pangkek). Each finished tower is more than a dozen metres tall and weighs hundreds of kilograms. Neighbours carry it together to the beat of gandang tasa drums.

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Details

Tabuik moves about 11 days earlier each year, and the exact 2027 period is set by the Pariaman city government. The shaking of the towers and their casting into the sea both happen on the final day, so plan around that one.

Working out the dates

The Islamic calendar is purely lunar and about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Tabuik moves earlier every year and last year's dates cannot be reused.

The 2027 festival is expected to start around 6 June, the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1449) on Indonesia's 2027 public holiday list. The climax no longer has to fall on 10 Muharram and is set by the organisers each year. The Pariaman city government's announcement fixes the exact period.

By train from Padang

Padang, the provincial capital, is the usual starting point. KAI's Pariaman Ekspres runs from Padang to Pariaman in about 1.5 hours. Over the September 2025 long weekend it ran 10 trips a day with about 4,240 seats.

Crowds and stamina

The shaking of the towers and their casting into the sea happen on the same day, with towers weighing hundreds of kilograms moving through packed streets and onto the beach. About 500,000 people came for the 2026 climax. Step aside when a tower passes, stay out from underneath it, and do not follow the bearers into the water.

Timing on the final day

The towers are shaken in town first and reach the shore before sunset. If you are heading back to Padang afterwards, check the time of the last return train before you go.

Behaviour at the rites

Tabuik is a religious commemoration in Muharram, and rites such as maatam are about mourning. Keep your distance when photographing the taking of soil or maatam, and do not block the bearers. Cover shoulders and knees at mosques and ritual sites.

Good to know

Festival period: 16–28 June 2026
Location: Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The towers go into the sea at Gandoriah Beach
What it marks: Ashura, the death of Husayn, the Prophet's grandson, at Karbala
Entry: Free: Indonesia's official tourism site lists the 2026 event as FREE
Getting there: KAI's Pariaman Ekspres train runs from Padang to Pariaman in about 1.5 hours

FAQ

What is the Tabuik?

From tabut, the Arabic word for a wooden chest. Pariaman's two towers, one from Pasa and one from Subarang, depict the winged buraq carrying the chest with Husayn's body to heaven.

How do I get from Padang to Pariaman?

KAI's Pariaman Ekspres train runs from Padang to Pariaman in about 1.5 hours. During the September 2025 long weekend it ran 10 trips a day.

Where does the Tabuik custom come from?

Oral tradition in Pariaman places it around 1826–1828 and links its early form to Shia Muslims of Indian descent, with Minangkabau custom shaping it from 1910. RRI describes it as brought to West Sumatra by Muslim migrants from India in the 19th century.

Do I need a ticket to watch Tabuik?

No. The 2026 event page on indonesia.travel, the official tourism site, lists it as free.