Independence Day speech template (Indonesia)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
Independence Day, Hari Kemerdekaan, is celebrated in Indonesia on 17 August. It marks the proclamation of independence read by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta in Jakarta on 17 August 1945. Flag-raising ceremonies are held across the country, with the main state ceremony usually held at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Red and white decorations fill streets and villages, and communities hold games and competitions such as sack races, cracker-eating contests and panjat pinang, the greased-pole climb.
- Date
- August 17
- Next dates
- Tuesday 17 August 2027
Thursday 17 August 2028
Friday 17 August 2029 - Country
- Indonesia
- Tone
- Celebratory
- Typical events
- Flag ceremonies at schools and offices, neighbourhood games, Indonesian embassies and community associations abroad, and company celebrations held on or around 17 August.
- Length
- 200 spoken words · about 1.5 min at 130 words a minute · 5 cue cards
The Independence Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 5 cards, about 1.5 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- SELAMAT PAGI1 / 5
Good morning, and selamat pagi. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} welcome to our Independence Day celebration. I can see red and white everywhere, which tells me we are ready for a proud and happy day together. - THE PROCLAMATION2 / 5
On the morning of 17 August 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia's independence in Jakarta. The proclamation itself was short, but its meaning was enormous. Today, the red and white flag is raised across the archipelago and wherever Indonesians live. - RAISING THE MERAH PUTIH3 / 5
Please stand as {Flag team} raise the Merah Putih, and join in singing Indonesia Raya.
[FLAG-RAISING – INDONESIA RAYA]
Thank you. Please be seated. Now, all together, the greeting heard across Indonesia today: Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia. - LET THE GAMES BEGIN4 / 5
No Independence Day is complete without games. This afternoon we have sack races, a cracker-eating contest for the brave and, if the pole is ready, panjat pinang. Teams, please register with {Games coordinator} by the stage. There are prizes for every winner, and for the best sport. - MERDEKA5 / 5
Thank you all for celebrating with us. Independence was won by a generation who believed in it, and today it is ours to enjoy and to look after. Have fun at the games, eat well, and once more, all together: Merdeka!
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Formal flag ceremonies usually include the reading of the proclamation text, the flag-raising with Indonesia Raya and a moment of silence for national heroes. Keep these elements if your guests expect a formal programme.
- The proclamation was read at 10 a.m., and many ceremonies mark that moment. If you can, schedule your flag-raising for the morning and the games for the afternoon.
- Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia means 'long live the Republic of Indonesia' and is the standard greeting on this day. 'Merdeka', meaning freedom, is the cheer every Indonesian guest will know.
- Plan games for all ages and abilities, and take safety seriously for panjat pinang: a stable pole, soft ground underneath and adults supervising any children who take part.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: Doha. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
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