BEC 2026 Brings Perang Bayu to Life on Banyuwangi's Streets

For over a decade, Banyuwangi Ethno Carnival has been known for its parade of elaborate ethnic costumes moving down the city's main street. This year, the event is taking a noticeably different direction. BEC 2026 has chosen Perang Bayu, or the Bayu War, as its central theme, and instead of a straightforward costume walk, organizers are building the entire show around theatrical storytelling and traditional dance.

Why this theme, and why now

Perang Bayu refers to the historic Puputan Bayu conflict of 1771, when Blambangan fighters under Pangeran Jagapati made a final stand against VOC forces near what is now Songgon district. According to the Banyuwangi Culture and Tourism Office, the theme was chosen specifically to help the public reconnect with this part of local history, not just as spectacle but as education delivered through art.

Organizers have described this year's approach as more theatrical and narrative driven compared to previous editions, which tended to focus more purely on fashion and costume design. BEC 2026 will still involve elaborate costumes, but participants are also expected to embody characters from the story, including Blambangan fighters and VOC soldiers, acting out moments from the conflict rather than simply walking the route.

Five subthemes, one continuous story

Instead of splitting participants into loosely connected groups, this year's structure follows five subthemes arranged to tell the Perang Bayu story from beginning to end. These cover Hasil Bumi, representing the land and its harvest, followed by segments on VOC and its local allies, the war sites themselves, the weapons and war drums used during the conflict, and finally the Blambangan fighters who led the resistance. Each segment is expected to run for roughly eight to nine minutes, with five different dance studios from around Banyuwangi contributing choreography to their assigned portion of the story.

This structure means the carnival now functions more like a moving stage play than a traditional parade, with music blending modern arrangement and traditional instruments, though organizers have emphasized that traditional elements will be more prominent this year than in past editions.

Behind the scenes with local designers

As with every BEC edition, the months leading up to the event have been busy ones for local costume designers. Around 100 costume performers are being divided into five groups matching the subthemes, and designers across the region have been working on pieces ranging from elaborate war headdresses to detailed armor inspired outfits. Some designers are managing more than ten costumes at once for this edition alone, while local woodcarvers have been brought in separately to handle detailed wing and crown ornaments, adding another layer of craftsmanship to each outfit.

Auditions for this year's participants were held in April 2026, split across two locations to accommodate talent from different parts of Banyuwangi, with a prize pool of around Rp60 million awaiting the top performers.

When and where to catch BEC 2026

BEC 2026 is scheduled to run across three days, from 17 to 19 July 2026. The main parade and performance, where the Perang Bayu story unfolds along the protocol street, takes place on 18 July 2026, while the closing awards night is set for 19 July at Gesibu Blambangan. As with past editions, the route will temporarily close off Banyuwangi's main streets, turning the city center into an open air stage for the weekend.

For visitors planning a trip around this date, it is worth arriving early to secure a good viewing spot, since the historical theme and the new theatrical format have already generated considerable buzz both locally and among past BEC attendees curious to see the change in format.

A living history lesson

What makes BEC 2026 particularly meaningful is how directly it ties back to the same history explored elsewhere on this site, including the story of Puputan Bayu itself. Watching costumed performers reenact scenes from a nearly 255 year old conflict is a different kind of history lesson, one built on color, movement, and craftsmanship rather than textbooks. For a region that takes real pride in preserving its heritage, this year's BEC feels less like a departure from tradition and more like a new way of keeping it alive.