MTQN XXX
Drone Show
— Samarinda

Mission Objective

The Brief

Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran Nasional (MTQN) is Indonesia's National Quran Recitation Competition, one of the most significant Islamic cultural events in the country. The 30th edition, MTQN XXX, was held in Samarinda, East Kalimantan in September 2024. MIRS Drone Show was commissioned to deliver an aerial performance that honoured the cultural and spiritual significance of the event while creating a spectacular visual moment above the stadium for the thousands of participants, officials, and spectators in attendance.

The mission: produce a 500-drone aerial show above Samarinda Stadium that combined national identity, regional pride, and Islamic cultural symbolism in a synchronized aerial canvas, delivering innovation, artistry, and precision in a single performance that would be remembered as a highlight of the MTQN XXX championship.

MTQN XXX — The Cultural Stage

MTQN XXX brought together Quran recitation competitors from every province across Indonesia, a national competition that carries deep religious, cultural, and governmental significance. Held in Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan province, the 2024 edition was one of the most prominent public events in Kalimantan's recent history, with the drone show serving as the ceremonial aerial centrepiece of the championship's celebrations.

Creative Performance Design

National Identity, Cultural Pride

The creative direction for the MTQN XXX show was built around three interlocking layers of meaning: Indonesian national identity, East Kalimantan regional pride, and the Islamic cultural significance of the Quran recitation championship itself. Every formation in the aerial sequence drew from one of these layers, creating a show that was not just visually spectacular, but culturally resonant for every person in the stadium and watching from across the province.

The sequence opened with sweeping grid formations above the stadium before moving through the signature cultural set pieces: the Garuda eagle soaring overhead, the shape of Kalimantan drawn in drone light above its own land, and the minaret tower rising against the night sky as a tribute to the Islamic tradition the championship celebrates.

• Garuda eagle formation Indonesia's national emblem — the Garuda Pancasila — formed by 500 drones above Samarinda Stadium, wings spread wide against the East Kalimantan night sky, as a declaration of national identity above the championship crowd
• Kalimantan island map The outline of Borneo island — Kalimantan — drawn in drone light above Samarinda Stadium, anchoring the performance in the geography of the host province and honouring East Kalimantan's role as the home of the 30th national championship
• Minaret tower formation A soaring minaret formation rising in drone light above the stadium — a direct tribute to the Islamic cultural tradition at the heart of MTQN, the National Quran Recitation Competition, and a symbolic centrepiece of the show's cultural narrative
• Night aerial stadium illumination The full show sequence in flight above Samarinda Stadium — 500 drones forming synchronized light patterns above the illuminated venue, visible to thousands of spectators inside the stadium and aerial audiences across the city

As Referenced In

The MTQN XXX closing ceremony drone show at GOR Kadrie Oening, Samarinda broke the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) for most simultaneous drone logo formations. Selected public coverage:

To explore more of our national event productions, visit our drone light show services, discover our work across drone shows in Indonesia, or read our guide on drone show brand ROI.