National

Namu Balai Kota: 500 Visitors Flock to First Tour, Tickets Sold Out

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

The Namu Balai Kota program officially opened to the public on Saturday (10/17/2026) and was immediately swarmed by residents. Around 500 people attended on opening day, with tickets selling out shortly after online registration opened. The Jakarta City Hall tour program is scheduled to run regularly every two weeks.

Key Facts

The Namu Balai Kota program officially opened to the public on Saturday (10/17/2026); around 500 residents attended on its first day.
Visit tickets sold out shortly after online registration opened via the JAKI app and the Jakarta provincial government's official website.
The program had undergone a trial run on October 3, 2026, with around 300 registrants.
Namu Balai Kota is planned as a regular event every two weeks throughout 2026.
Visitors are taken on a tour of the pendopo (traditional pavilion), meeting rooms, the Block G area, and the painting collection, while learning the history of the building now known as Grha Ali Sadikin.
The Kids on Air program gives children a chance to try being reporters at Berita Jakarta Studio, owned by the Jakarta provincial government.
Various public services are available on site: passport processing, mobile driver's license (SIM) and vehicle tax (Samsat) services, free health checkups, Bank Jakarta account opening, and business licensing services.
Visitor Misi Utami (57) praised the program but highlighted the need to improve facilities for people with disabilities.

Tickets Gone in a Flash, 500 Residents Pack Opening Day

Public enthusiasm was on full display at the official launch of Namu Balai Kota on Saturday (10/17/2026). Around 500 residents were recorded attending the various activities provided by the Jakarta provincial government at the City Hall complex. Registration was done online via the JAKI app and the official website, and tickets were reported sold out shortly after registration opened.

One visitor, Misi Utami (57), a resident of Cilincing, North Jakarta, came with around 30 children from the 2026 Abang None Cilik group of the Betawi Cultural Institute. The children, aged 5 to 16, were visibly enthusiastic as they explored the meeting rooms, the historic building, and the painting collection inside City Hall.

“First of all, I want to thank the Governor and Vice Governor for opening City Hall to the public. This is truly delightful and meaningful, especially for the children and residents in general,” Utami said when met at City Hall on Saturday (10/17).

From Pendopo Tour to Junior Reporter Experience

On the tour, visitors are taken around the City Hall complex — from the pendopo to meeting rooms and the Block G area — while learning the history of the building now named Grha Ali Sadikin. The program had previously undergone a trial run on October 3, 2026, with around 300 registrants.

Beyond heritage tourism, Namu Balai Kota also offers educational activities for children through the Kids on Air program. Kids get to try being reporters at Berita Jakarta Studio, owned by the Jakarta provincial government, and join community film screenings at the Ruang Pola on the second floor.

A range of public services is also available at the same location, from passport processing, mobile SIM and Samsat services, free health checkups, Bank Jakarta account opening, to business licensing services.

Praise Pours In, Disability Access in the Spotlight

Amid the praise, Utami offered an important note on accessibility for people with disabilities, which she felt still needs improvement to make visits more comfortable. She hopes facilities for visitors with disabilities will be upgraded soon so more residents can enjoy the program.

Marulina Dewi, head of Jakarta's Communication, Informatics and Statistics Agency, explained the program was initiated by Governor Pramono Anung to bring the public closer to the seat of government through openness and direct interaction. In her words, City Hall must continuously benefit residents, including on weekends.

Jakarta Vice Governor Rano Karno said the program is meant to let the public see the government's work firsthand. Going forward, Namu Balai Kota is planned to be held every two weeks throughout 2026.