This October, the coastal city of Bitung comes alive with a celebration inspired by the sea. From 7–11 October 2026, Festival Pesona Selat Lembeh brings together maritime traditions, local culture, food, music and water sports in one of North Sulawesi’s most distinctive annual events.
Held beside the famous Lembeh Strait, the festival celebrates the close relationship between the communities of Bitung and the waters that surround them. Visitors can expect a colourful programme incorporating a decorated boat parade, sea carnival, canoeing, rowing and swimming competitions, alongside live music and large-scale dance performances.
Culture is equally central to the celebrations. Performances showcase traditions from Minahasa, Sangir, Talaud and Gorontalo communities, reflecting the diverse cultural influences found across North Sulawesi and its neighbouring islands. A traditional tuna-cutting ritual also highlights the importance of the sea and fishing to local livelihoods.
Local businesses and the creative economy join the festivities through exhibitions of products and culinary offerings, providing another opportunity for visitors to experience Bitung beyond its best-known attractions.
Gateway to an Underwater World
The setting is an attraction in itself. Separating Lembeh Island from mainland Sulawesi, the Lembeh Strait stretches for around 12 kilometres and contains approximately 95 dive sites. Famed as ‘the World’s Critter Capital’, its unusual underwater habitats support an extraordinary variety of marine life, earning the area an international reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for muck diving.
Rather than the sweeping coral scenery associated with some other Indonesian dive destinations, much of Lembeh’s appeal lies in the small, strange and wonderfully well-camouflaged creatures hidden across the seabed. This makes the strait particularly popular with experienced divers and underwater macro photographers.
For non-divers, there is plenty more to discover. Snorkelling provides another way to explore the strait, while Bitung itself provides a base for experiencing the landscapes, communities and flavours of North Sulawesi.
Explore Beyond the Festival
A visit to Festival Pesona Selat Lembeh can also become the starting point for a wider North Sulawesi adventure. Bitung sits close to forested mountains and the wildlife-rich landscapes surrounding Tangkoko Nature Reserve, known for species including Sulawesi black-crested macaques, cus-cus bears, kingfishers and the tiny spectral tarsier.
Further afield, visitors can combine the coast with the highlands and cultural attractions surrounding Manado, creating an itinerary that moves between marine environments, forests, volcanic landscapes and local communities.
Festival Pesona Selat Lembeh captures many of these different elements in one place. The event offers travellers a window into a region where life, livelihoods and culture remain intimately connected to the sea; making this month the perfect time to discover North Sulawesi.
