Putri Mandalika 2026: Cultural Fusion, Young Generation, and Lombok's Charm

The Princess Mandalika NTB 2026 Selection is being held again as part of preparations to welcome Bau Nyale, Lombok's iconic cultural tradition that annually attracts attention from Domestic Tourists to international visitors. Taking place in the Special Economic Zone (KEK) Mandalika, Central Lombok, this event serves not only as a selection stage but also as a platform to birth new Tourism icons for West Nusa Tenggara.

The Princess Mandalika 2026 audition was attended by 60 participants from various regencies and cities across NTB Province. Participants brought their regional cultural backgrounds, making this event a reflection of Lombok's diversity and its surrounding areas rich in traditions, stories, and Tourism Potential.

Head of the Cultural Division at the Central Lombok Education and Culture Office, Lalu Muhlis, emphasized this event's crucial role in regional promotion.

"The Princess Mandalika Selection is an annual agenda with strategic importance in promoting regional culture and tourism," he stated.

The Princess Mandalika Selection also forms an integral part of the Bau Nyale core events, a Cultural Festival steeped in the legend of Princess Mandalika and the sea worm-catching ritual on Lombok's southern coast. This event has long been a tourism magnet and is featured in NTB's premier tourism calendar at both national and international levels.

Furthermore, this event aims to cultivate young figures capable of discussing culture and tourism in ways relevant to today's generation.

"Princess Mandalika isn't merely a beauty pageant, but a platform to create intelligent, character-driven cultural and tourism ambassadors who can represent their respective regions," he explained.

All participants are encouraged to approach the audition process with enthusiasm, Sportsmanship, and confidence. For them, this event isn't just about competition, but an opportunity to promote their hometowns on a broader stage while becoming the face of NTB Tourism in the future.

Through rigorous selection by the judging panel, 10 finalists for Princess Mandalika NTB 2026 were chosen to advance to the next stage, as stipulated in the 2026 Princess Mandalika NTB Selection Jury Decree.

The ten finalists will undergo intensive training and quarantine. During this phase, they'll be groomed not only in appearance but also enriched with cultural insights, tourism knowledge, personality development, and communication skills. This process aims to produce tourism ambassadors ready to engage directly with communities and the Tourism Promotion sector.

At the final stage, these 10 finalists will compete in the grand final night where five main titles will be awarded: Princess Mandalika NTB 2026, Princess Mandalika NTB Runner Up, Princess Mandalika NTB Culture, Princess Mandalika NTB Tourism, and Princess Mandalika NTB Favorite.

"These five titleholders are expected to become active ambassadors promoting West Nusa Tenggara's culture and tourism," he said.

For travelers, the Princess Mandalika event reveals another facet of Mandalika's charm. Beyond beaches and international circuits, this area offers living cultural narratives, active Younger Generations, and preserved traditions that shape regional identity.

The 10 Princess Mandalika NTB 2026 Finalists are:

1. Eva Yuniza (Mataram)
2. Sabrina Rinjani Wilson (Mataram)
3. Gina Sonia (Central Lombok)
4. Vega Novia Asrila (Central Lombok)
5. Rahma Berliani Faradila (West Lombok)
6. Yunia Putri Salsabila (West Lombok)
7. Sawlia Hidayati (North Lombok)
8. Nia Maulidani Hafsari (East Lombok)
9. Ananda Gistha Canthika (Dompu)
10. Ariska Anugerah Anjani (Sumbawa)