Jakarta, September 16, 2026 — The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) through the National Achievement Center (Puspresnas) officially opened the 2026 National Science Olympiad (OSN) for Secondary Education Level. The opening took place at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), East Java, Tuesday (15/9).

Carrying the spirit of sustainable development of science talent, OSN Dikmen 2026 becomes a space for students to actualize their science abilities, build character, and expand self-development opportunities to the international level.

A total of 540 finalists from 28 provinces and one Indonesian School Abroad (SILN) in Japan successfully qualified for the national level and will compete in nine branches of the event, namely astronomy, biology, economics, physics, geography, informatics/computer science, earth science, chemistry, and mathematics.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Suharti, in her remarks, said that OSN is part of an effort to discover, develop, and actualize student talents.

"OSN is a space to discover, develop, and actualize students' talents, and this spirit is the basis for student talent management," said Suharti.

Suharti also emphasized that achievements achieved through OSN should be seen as an initial step to open up opportunities for self-development and broader education for participants.

"OSN is not just about winning medals. Through continuous development, the best-performing participants have the opportunity to represent Indonesia at international science olympiads and gain educational development opportunities through the Indonesian Talent Scholarship selection process," he explained.

On the same occasion, the Head of the National Achievement Center, Maria Veronica Irene Herdjiono, stated that participation of science talent at the secondary school level in the 2026 National Science Olympiad (OSN) had increased. The number of applicants reached 297,955, a 12.33 percent increase compared to 2025's 265,251 participants.

This increase indicates the increasing participation of SMA/MA/SMK/MAK/equivalent students from 38 provinces and SILN throughout the world in the talent development event in the field of research and innovation.

"This means the OSN competition is getting higher every year. It's incredible that you've reached the final stage," said Irene.

In addition to the implementation of nine science branches, Puspresnas also collaborated with Cakrawala University to organize the Artificial Intelligence Competition Exhibition (EKKA) for the second year. EKKA 2026 recorded a 72.01 percent increase in registrants, from 1,347 participants in 2025 to 2,317 participants from 37 provinces in 2026. A total of 26 finalists from 10 provinces will participate in the final round of EKKA 2026. This organization is part of expanding the space for actualizing student talents in the field of artificial intelligence.

Irene explained that developing student talent doesn't stop at winning medals. The Ministry of Education and Culture continues to provide various opportunities for high-achieving students to develop their abilities and continue their journey of achievement.

"Not just medals, not just coaching money, but also a series of efforts to develop sustainable achievements," explained Irene.

In line with the implementation of the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation Number 25 of 2025 concerning Student Talent Management, OSN is a talent event that facilitates the development, improvement, and appreciation of talents on an ongoing basis, from the national to the international level.

Participants with the best achievements have the opportunity to participate in further training and represent Indonesia in international science olympiad events, including the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).

Furthermore, the 2026 OSN Dikmen (National Science and Technology Education) marked the second time UMM had been entrusted to host the event. UMM's support included facility readiness, service delivery, and the creation of an academic atmosphere that fostered participants' experiences during the OSN.

The Rector of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Nazaruddin Malik, stated that UMM is committed to supporting government programs to develop science and student talent. He believes that universities play a crucial role in building an educational ecosystem capable of providing solutions for society.

"Good luck in the competition, uphold honesty, and achieve maximum results," said Nazaruddin to all participants of the 2026 OSN Dikmen.

One of the participants in the National Science Olympiad (OSN) for the mathematics branch of the competition, Edric Owen Pidono from SMAS Katolik Rajawali Makassar, South Sulawesi, revealed that his participation in this event was not only an opportunity to achieve success, but also opened up opportunities to continue his education to a higher level. "My motivation for participating in OSN is because achievements in this event can open up opportunities to continue my education to the next level, one of which is through the opportunity to receive the Indonesian Talent Scholarship and other scholarships," he said.

The passion to achieve success and continue their efforts in the international arena is also the hope of the 2026 OSN Dikmen finalists. One of them is Azzahra Nabilla Sofian from SMA Negeri 10 Samarinda. "Hopefully, my efforts and hard work will result in a medal and progress to the international arena," said the biology finalist.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Michael Daniel, a participant in the 2026 EKKA OSN (National Science Olympiad) competition from Darma Yudha Senior High School in Pekanbaru, Riau. "Besides wanting to deepen my knowledge of artificial intelligence, I also want to participate in national training and join the Indonesian national team at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI)," he said.

Through the 2026 OSN Dikmen which took place at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), East Java, on September 14–20, 2026, attended by 566 students from OSN and EKKA participants, the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education affirmed its commitment to continue opening up space for Indonesian students to develop their potential, expand their learning experiences, and achieve achievements that are beneficial for the future of the nation.*** (Author & Documentation: Puspresnas Team/Editor: Stephanie)

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Source: Siaran Pers Kementerian Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah Nomor: 809/sipers/A6/IX/2026

Writer: Stephanie Westiana

Editor: Denty Anugrahmawaty

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