On 21 July 2026, JKT48 Virtual (JKT48V), the virtual sub-unit of the Indonesian idol group JKT48, has officially disbanded. On their website, JKT48 explained that PT Indonesia Musik Nusantara (IMN), the company that oversees JKT48’s operations, has terminated the licensing agreement with AKA Virtual Inc., the licensee responsible for managing JKT48 Virtual operations, since May 2026.
Contractual Obligations and Communication Issues Are the Main Causes
On the official JKT48 website, it was stated that the decision to disband the project was made because AKA Virtual Inc. was deemed to have failed to fulfil their contractual obligations, both to PT IMN and to the JKT48 Virtual members themselves.
“PT IMN has issued an official notification and made various follow-up communication efforts. However, due to the lack of response or good-faith communication with AKA Virtual, Inc., we have determined that the continued joint operations of this project can no longer continue. Based on this situation, after in-depth discussions with the members, we have decided to terminate the JKT48 Virtual project,” according to the official statement from PT IMN.
The management also publicly apologised and expressed their gratitude to all fans for the support and love they have shown the JKT48 Virtual members throughout the project.
Graduation Stream Schedule of JKT48V Members
As a form of farewell, the management announced the graduation stream schedule for the remaining JKT48V members before officially completing their duty. The schedule is as follows:
- Tana Nona: 27 July 2026
- Maura Nilambari: 9 August 2026
- Isha Kirana: 21 August 2026
- Pia Meraleo: 5 September 2026
Another JKT48V talent who is currently on hiatus, Sami Maono, won’t hold any graduation stream. The management stated that her activity has officially ended.
JKT48V Journey and Legacy
JKT48V is a collaborative project between JKT48 and the VTuber agency AKA Virtual that combines the idol group concept with virtual technology. The group was first established on 30 July 2023 at the Impactnation Japan Festival, with their first generation consisting of Kanaia Asa, Pia Meraleo, and Tana Nona. In November 2025, Sami Maono, Isha Kirana, and Maura Nilambari were announced as their second-generation members.
With Kanaia Asa graduating and Sami Maono’s hiatus, JKT48V has four VTuber talents as of Mai 2026. Some of the milestones achieved during their 3 years of activity include:
- A 3D Stage Concert at JKT48 Theatre (August 2024): To celebrate their first anniversary, JKT48V held a 3D concert at the JKT48 Theatre using motion capture technology. The concert was also streamed through the JKT48 YouTube channel.
- Original Song Released (April – May 2025): All three first-generation members released their own solo songs: Pia Meraleo released Blooming, Tana Nona released Luminescence, and Kanaia Asa released Kanayobi. As a group, JKT48V also released their first original song, Suatu Saat Bertemu, to celebrate the group’s journey.
- Cross-Dimensional Collaboration with JKT48: One of their talents, Pia Meraleo, has created collaboration projects with JKT48 members, such as the song Kusuka Hari Minggu with Ella JKT48 (Generation 10) and the music video Kadang Aku Lupa (Hai Tetangga) featuring Lulu JKT48 (Generation 8).
- Second-generation Debut (November 2025): JKT48V introduced their second-generation members Sami Maono, Isha Kirana, and Maura Nilambari. During their debut, JKT48V re-released their debut song Suatu Saat Bertemu under the title Suatu Saat Bertemu (Dreamtale), with these three new members singing the song
The Indonesian Anime Times | Source
