JAKARTA — What happens when a group of high school students decides that a running event should be about more than running?
The answer is Tebet Run 2026—a new initiative by students of SMA Negeri 26 Jakarta (SMAN 26) that seeks to bring together sports, communities, local residents, entertainment, and UMKM in one shared public space.
Under the theme “Where Tebet Comes Together,” Tebet Run 2026 is designed as more than a 5-kilometer fun run. It is an attempt by the younger generation to create a platform where people can meet, interact, and experience Tebet in a different way.
At the heart of the initiative are two SMAN 26 students: Muhammad Reza Syarif, Chair of the Organizing Committee, and Jibran Rafan Fardin Nugraha, Vice Chair.
For them, the event represents a first step in turning an idea from within the school community into an initiative with a broader social impact.
More Than a Finish Line
Tebet Run 2026 combines a 5K Easy Run with an After Run Festival, creating an experience that continues long after participants cross the finish line.
The festival will feature UMKM booths, food and beverage tents, a photobooth, interactive games, DJ performances and guest star performances.
The inclusion of UMKM is particularly significant. Local entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to showcase their products and engage directly with participants and visitors.
The concept effectively turns the event into a meeting point: runners become visitors, visitors become customers, and a sporting event becomes a platform for community interaction and local economic activity.
A Young Generation Taking Initiative
For Reza, the idea behind Tebet Run came from a desire to create an activity that could involve a wider segment of society.
“The idea for Tebet Run came from our desire as students of SMAN 26 Jakarta to create an activity that is not only focused on sports, but can also involve the wider community. Through Tebet Run, we want to create a space to exercise, gather, and build interaction between communities, residents, and UMKM in Tebet.”
Jibran shares a similar vision. He believes Tebet has strong potential as a place where different segments of society can come together.
“We chose Tebet because the area has great potential as a space for people to gather and engage in activities. We want Tebet Run to become a positive platform for the community and an initial step toward bringing sports, communities, residents, and UMKM together in an ecosystem that can continue to grow.”
Alumni: Supporting the Next Generation
The initiative has also received support from the SMAN 26 Jakarta Alumni Association, along with RGA, with Rangga Pradana and Almer Jannatan Mizan serving as advisors to the event.
For the alumni, however, the significance of Tebet Run goes beyond the event itself.
Herawan, Chairman of the SMAN 26 Jakarta Alumni Association, said the initiative represents an important example of how young people can create meaningful activities for their communities.
“As alumni of SMAN 26 Jakarta, we are proud to see our younger fellow students take the initiative and create Tebet Run 2026. This is not merely a running event, but proof that the younger generation is capable of creating a collaborative space that brings together sports, communities, residents, and UMKM.”
He emphasized that the role of alumni should extend beyond preserving memories of their school years.
“The role of alumni is not only to remember the past, but also to help pave the way for the next generation to create and contribute. We fully support this spirit and hope Tebet Run can grow into a sustainable event that delivers broader benefits to the community.”
Herawan’s message underlines an important dimension of the event: the connection between generations. Students bring fresh ideas and energy, while alumni can provide support, experience, networks, and opportunities for those ideas to grow.
Mark Your Calendar
Tebet Run 2026 will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. WIB, with SMAN 26 Jakarta serving as both the starting and finishing point.
The event will begin with a warm-up, followed by the 5K Easy Run through the Tebet area, cooling down, and the After Run Festival.
Organizers are targeting 500 participants, including SMAN 26 students, alumni, communities, and members of the public, particularly residents around Tebet.
Building a Sustainable Community Platform
The bigger ambition behind Tebet Run 2026 is to create something that lasts beyond one Sunday morning.
The organizers hope the event can evolve into an annual running agenda that promotes a healthy lifestyle, strengthens community connections, and contributes to making Tebet a more active and sustainable public space.
In that sense, the most important distance in Tebet Run may not be the five kilometers covered by the runners.
It is the distance between generations, communities, local businesses and residents—a distance the organizers hope to bring closer together.
Tebet Run 2026 is, ultimately, an invitation to come together.
