Timor-Leste hosts Indonesian delegates for Fronteira Festival
The fourth edition runs from October 23 to 25 in Com, combining cultural exchanges with calls to protect marine biodiversity and reduce coastal plastic pollution.
Delegates from Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province and Maluku region received a welcome in Timor-Leste for the 2026 Fronteira Festival in Com, Lautém municipality. Scheduled for October 23 to 25, the event aims to deepen relations between border communities while promoting cultural exchange, the blue economy and environmental protection.
At a welcome dinner, Minister of State Administration Tomás do Rosário Cabral received representatives of the provincial government, Southwest Maluku regency and Kisar, Alor and Lirang islands. He said the border connected communities and described the festival as a way to strengthen their relationships.
Cabral urged participants to focus on marine biodiversity and plastic pollution along the coast. He also called for Lautém’s authorities and residents to carry on conservation and coastal clean-up work beyond the festival, supported by government bodies and other institutions.
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão attended the dinner and encouraged participants to share experiences and build closer ties. Traditional music featured in the evening’s programme, and organisers recognised companies supporting the event with certificates of appreciation.
Government institutions, including the State Secretariat for Arts and Culture, cooperate in organising the festival. This is its fourth edition: Bobonaro hosted the inaugural event in 2023, followed by Oé-Cusse Ambeno in 2024 and Covalima in 2025.
