UNDIP, Semarang (8/7) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) officially opened the 2026 Central Java Student Arts Week (Pekan Seni Mahasiswa Daerah / PEKSIMIDA) for the Pop Singing competition category. The Opening Ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the Art Center Building, UNDIP Tembalang Campus. The event was attended by the Rector of UNDIP, the Chair of the Academic Senate, the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, representatives of the Central Java Indonesian Student Arts Development Board (BPSMI), the leadership of the Central Java Forum of Vice Rectors for Student Affairs, UNDIP’s vice rectors, as well as deans and vice deans from across the university.
As the host institution, UNDIP warmly welcomed talented student performers from universities throughout Central Java. A total of 67 outstanding students, comprising 28 male and 39 female contestants, representing 41 public and private higher education institutions, are competing for the opportunity to advance to the national level.
The event was officially opened by the Rector of Universitas Diponegoro, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si. In his remarks, Prof. Suharnomo reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting students’ interests, talents, and creativity across various fields.
“The trust placed in Universitas Diponegoro to host PEKSIMIDA reflects our strong commitment to continuously support the development of students’ interests, talents, and creativity throughout Indonesia, whether in academics, sports, or the arts,” said Prof. Suharnomo.
He also encouraged participants to perform confidently and showcase their best abilities on stage.
“People who are passionate about sports and the arts tend to be flexible, open-minded, and highly empathetic. To all participating students, perform freely, express your passion, and give your best performance on the Art Center stage,” he added.
Representing the Chair of BPSMI Central Java, Prof. Dr. Dra. Kusni Ingsih, S.E., M.M., Chair of the Central Java Forum of Vice Rectors for Student Affairs, expressed her appreciation for the excellent operational management and hospitality demonstrated by Universitas Diponegoro. She also emphasized the strategic importance of the competition in helping Central Java maintain its national championship title.
“Central Java’s consecutive overall victories at PEKSIMINAS in 2022 and 2024 serve as both motivation and a positive challenge for us. Through the rigorous and objective judging process at UNDIP, we are optimistic that we can identify the best delegates to once again bring home the Overall Champion trophy at PEKSIMINAS 2026 in Jember,” she stated.
In the organizing committee report, Edy Surahmad, S.Pd., M.Si., Director of Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs at UNDIP and Chair of the Organizing Committee, explained that the competition would take place over two days, on July 8–9, 2026. The male category performances and judging were held on Wednesday, followed by the female category on Thursday, before concluding with the Closing Ceremony.
Edy Surahmad, S.Pd., M.Si. highlighted the significance of PEKSIMIDA as an important platform for student development.
“PEKSIMIDA serves as both a development program and a selection platform for outstanding students in the arts. It provides an opportunity for students to enhance their creativity and artistic appreciation while preparing Central Java’s best delegates for the national competition,” he explained.
He further noted that UNDIP’s appointment as host strengthens the role of higher education institutions in promoting arts and culture.
“The trust given to UNDIP as the organizer demonstrates the university’s commitment to supporting student achievements while reinforcing the role of higher education in fostering a high-quality, noble, and impactful arts and cultural ecosystem,” he added.
Each participant is required to perform two songs—one mandatory song and one song of their choice—accompanied by a live band provided by the organizing committee. Performances are evaluated by a panel of three judges representing academia, professional musicians, and arts practitioners. Assessment criteria include vocal quality, vocal technique, expression and interpretation, as well as stage performance. To ensure complete objectivity, contestants are called to the stage only by their performance number, without any mention of their names or institutions. The first-place winners in both the male and female categories will automatically represent BPSMI Central Java Province at the prestigious National Student Arts Week (PEKSIMINAS) 2026, scheduled to take place in mid-September 2026 at Universitas Jember, East Java. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Riri)
