Indonesia
Vesak at Borobudur 2027: 20 May full moon, monks' procession and lanterns
At a glance
- Dates
- Next: 20 May 2027
- Where
- Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java; procession from Mendut temple
- Getting there
- 40 km from Yogyakarta, 1–1.5 hours by hired car, bus or taxi
- Cost
- Not listed
- Limits
- Lantern release needs a ticket; age 7 and over only (2026)
The 2026 edition has passed
Dates last checked: 13 October 2026
The festival
Three kilometres from Mendut to Borobudur
The Vesak procession leaves Mendut temple and walks roughly 3 km along the road to Borobudur, ending at Kenari Field in the temple's Zone 1. In 2026 it set off at about 10 a.m. on 31 May. Vehicles near the front carried the eternal flame from Mrapen and holy water from the Umbul Jumprit spring. Behind them came Buddha relics, a palanquin bearing the Tripitaka and a group carrying farm produce.
Vesak marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing, and its date follows the full moon. In 2026 the moment of Vesak fell at 3:44:44 p.m. Worshippers meditated in the Borobudur courtyard, led by a senior monk, then walked clockwise around the temple three times (pradaksina).
The lanterns come after dark. In 2026 the release organised by the Buddhist council MBMI ran in two sessions, 17:30–19:30 and 21:30–23:00. Each lantern is held up by a group of at least four and let go together into the sky over Borobudur.
Booking
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Prices and ratings checked 13 Oct 2026
Tickets and tours
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Borobudur (with temple climb) & Prambanan day tour from Yogyakarta
Hotel pick-up in Yogyakarta, about 8 hours, English-speaking driver-guide. Some plans do not include temple tickets (IDR 900,000 paid on the day), so check before booking.
from NT$654
See pricesYogyakarta, Indonesia
Borobudur sunrise climb & Prambanan day tour from Yogyakarta
Climb Borobudur through the VIP entrance for sunrise, then visit Prambanan. English-speaking guide, hotel pick-up, shared group.
from NT$404
See prices
Details
Lantern tickets must be bought in advance and the minimum age is 7. The second session ends at 23:00 and the drive back to Yogyakarta takes 1 to 1.5 hours, so arrange your ride before you go.
Date
The day is a Thursday and a national holiday under the Indonesian government's SKB 3 Menteri decree, with the day before as collective leave. The 2026 edition took place on 31 May.
The date follows the full moon, so it changes every year.
Getting there: about 40 km from Yogyakarta
Borobudur is in Magelang, Central Java, about 40 km from Yogyakarta city and 1 to 1.5 hours by road. Private car, tourist bus and ride-hailing all work. The procession leaves Mendut temple at around 10 a.m., so leave Yogyakarta early if you want to see it set off.
Where to buy lantern tickets
In 2026 there were two ticket channels.
The organiser, MBMI: go to mbmi.or.id, choose "Donasi Tiket", fill in the form and pick a session and ticket type. Payment confirmation and the e-ticket arrive by email. On the day, between 09:00 and 19:00, bring the barcode and original ID to the Kampung Seni Borobudur gate or to the front of Lapangan Aksobia opposite Hotel Manohara to collect a physical ticket. Each order is capped at 10 tickets, one per person.
The site operator, InJourney Destination Management: tickets were sold at ticket.injourneydestination.id from 18 April 2026, including grandstand seats and a viewing-only park ticket.
The 2027 sale dates are subject to announcements from both.
How the day runs
The day runs from morning to night: the procession at 10 a.m., meditation at the moment of Vesak in the afternoon, and a second lantern session that ends at 23:00. Add 1 to 1.5 hours back to Yogyakarta and most people reach their hotel after midnight. The lantern release has a minimum age of 7, so it doesn't work for young children.
Etiquette during the ceremonies
The procession, meditation and walk around the temple are religious rites. Don't block the procession or the monks' path, don't talk during meditation and don't use flash. MBMI recommends that lantern participants wear white.
Good to know
- Location
- Borobudur in Magelang, Central Java, built in the 8th and 9th centuries under the Sailendra dynasty and one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the world.
- Moment of Vesak
- In 2026 the moment of Vesak fell at 15:44:44 WIB. Worshippers meditated in the temple courtyard, led by a senior monk, and finished by walking clockwise around Borobudur three times (pradaksina).
- Procession
- On 31 May 2026 the procession left Mendut temple at about 10 a.m. and walked about 3 km to Kenari Field in Zone 1 of Borobudur, carrying the eternal flame from Mrapen, holy water from Umbul Jumprit and Buddha relics.
- Lantern tickets (organiser)
- In 2026 the Buddhist council MBMI (Majelis Agama Buddha Mahanikaya Indonesia) sold tickets on its website under "Donasi Tiket". The minimum age was 7, and each lantern was shared by at least four people.
- Lantern tickets (site operator)
- Borobudur's operator, InJourney Destination Management, also sold lantern and grandstand tickets on its own ticketing site. Sales for 2026 opened on 18 April.
FAQ
4
What does Vesak commemorate?
It is the main Buddhist holy day, marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing together. The date follows the full moon.
Where do you buy lantern tickets?
In 2026 there were two channels: the organising Buddhist council, MBMI, sold tickets at mbmi.or.id under "Donasi Tiket", and Borobudur's operator, InJourney Destination Management, sold them at ticket.injourneydestination.id. Sale dates for 2027 have not been announced.
What time is the moment of Vesak?
It is calculated astronomically each year. In 2026 it fell at 15:44:44 WIB, marked by meditation in the Borobudur courtyard.
How do you get there from Yogyakarta?
Borobudur is about 40 km from Yogyakarta city, around 1 to 1.5 hours by road. You can go by private car, tourist bus or ride-hailing.
Date sources
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