Warangan Hamlet on the slopes of Mount Merbabu is currently dressing up. Villagers are working hand-in-hand to prepare a grand stage made of bamboo and natural materials on the village's communal land. These preparations are not for an ordinary celebration, but to welcome the Five Mountains Festival (FLG) XXV, which will be held from July 10 to 12, 2026. This event marks an important milestone in the community's 25-year journey of independently nurturing cultural sovereignty.
Since its inception, FLG has consistently rejected dependence on corporate sponsors or government budget support. This resolve has been maintained up to its silver jubilee, even when the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the residents of Muneng Warangan Village, this festival has become part of a collective identity that strengthens social bonds among villagers and the communities around the five mountains: Merapi, Merbabu, Andong, Sumbing, and Menoreh.
This year, cultural figure Sutanto Mendut added a unique touch with the satirical theme, "Makin Goblok Bareng" (Getting Stupider Together). The theme is a spiritual reflection as well as a critique of the modern human phenomenon trapped in the flow of digital information and artificial intelligence. According to the Chairman of the Five Mountains Community, Sujono, this message invites people to return to humility, keep learning, and re-interpret the values of local wisdom that are increasingly eroded by time.
A total of 85 art groups with more than 1,200 artists from home and abroad are scheduled to attend and enliven the series of events. The warmth of the villagers who open their doors as lodgings for artists and visitors is clear proof that the strength of this festival lies in social capital in the form of mutual cooperation and sincerity.
The Five Mountains Festival is not just an annual art performance. The event stands as a monument to the resilience of farming communities, proving that true culture can thrive through self-reliance, without having to depend on the luxury of boardroom meetings or large-scale funding.
