Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2026

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, founded by the Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation after the 2002 Bali bombings to help bring visitors and dialogue back to the island, has grown into one of the most respected literary gatherings in the region. The 2026 edition runs from 21 to 25 October across stages, restaurants and hotels in and around Ubud.

This year’s theme is Samarasā: Awareness. Empathy. Action. Drawn from Sanskrit, the idea explores how thought, feeling and action can sit in harmony – a thread that runs through panels on politics, memoir, journalism, music and identity.

About the event

Organisers promise more than 100 events featuring upwards of 150 authors, journalists, poets and thinkers from Indonesia and around the world. The programme is split into a main programme of panels and conversations, special events such as dinners, masterclasses of two to three hours, cultural workshops and book launches. The main programme runs 22–25 October, with the festival opening on the 21st.

Line-up / programme

Headline names announced for 2026 include:

• Francesca Albanese
• Kiran Desai
• Fatima Bhutto
• Tash Aw
• Prabal Gurung
• Katie Kitamura
• Ali Sethi

The festival has noted that Rana Dasgupta will no longer take part. Check the online programme for session times and venues.

Venue

Main-programme sessions take place at stages including the Agung Stage, Valley Stage and Indus Restaurant on the Sanggingan ridge, with other events at partner hotels and restaurants around town. Ubud’s centre, the Monkey Forest and the palace are a short drive away.

Before you go

• Choose your pass: a 4-Day Festival Pass covers the full main programme; a 1-Day Pass gives unlimited main-programme access for one day. Masterclasses and special events are ticketed separately.
• Early-bird and concession prices are available on the official ticketing page; prices can change at checkout due to platform fees.
• Book accommodation early – Ubud fills up in festival week.
• Getting around: venues are spread out; walking plus short Gojek/Grab rides works well.

Beyond the main programme

Part of the festival’s charm is what happens around the sessions. Many visitors fill the gaps with cultural workshops, book launches and evening events, or simply wander Ubud’s galleries and warungs between talks. The festival has a strong Indonesian thread, with many sessions featuring writers from across the archipelago, and some events are held in Bahasa Indonesia – a rare chance to hear regional voices that seldom reach international stages. If you are coming for one day only, pick a day where two or three of your must-see speakers overlap, and buy masterclass tickets early because class sizes are small. Bring a hat, water and a light layer: the Sanggingan venues are partly open-air, and October afternoons in Ubud can switch from bright sun to a tropical shower.