The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2026 is underway in Ubud until 25/10/2026, with more than 100 events and over 150 authors under the theme "Samarasā: Awareness. Empathy. Action." Here is what to see, what is free and how to get around.
For five days this October, Ubud trades its usual rhythm for something quieter and more curious. Readers drift between garden stages with tote bags full of books, panels spill over into café conversations, and the town’s restaurants, hotels and palace courtyards become venues. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is back, and this year it runs from 21/10/2026 to 25/10/2026.
A theme about balance
The 2026 programme is built around “Samarasā: Awareness. Empathy. Action.” The word comes from Sanskrit philosophy, and the festival describes it as the harmony between Citta (mind), Rasa (heart) and Karsa (action). Awareness brings clarity, empathy builds connection, and action turns insight into purpose.
“A perfect balance of awareness, empathy, and action.”
Janet DeNeefe, Founder and Director
The festival began in 2004 as a healing project after the 2002 Bali bombings, conceived by Melbourne-born Janet DeNeefe and her Balinese husband, Dr. Drs. I Ketut Suardana, to help rebuild community spirit and the local economy. More than two decades on, it has grown into a literary event with a global following, run by the not-for-profit foundation Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati.
What is on
The official programme lists more than 100 events and more than 150 authors, journalists, poets, actors and thinkers. The main programme runs on the Agung and Valley stages, with the festival hub at Taman Baca on Jalan Raya Sanggingan, which also houses the ticket office and the festival bookshop. Around it sit special events, masterclasses, cultural workshops, book launches, film screenings and the after-dark Festival Club.
Sessions worth circling
- Storytelling Samarasā, with palliative care physician and author Rachel Clarke among eight storytellers: 23/10, 12.30-14.30, Sudamala Ubud.
- Contemporary Bali with Jean Couteau: 23/10, 11.00-13.00, Cucu Betutu.
- Tash Aw: The South: 24/10, Indus Restaurant.
- On the Record: Katie Kitamura: 24/10, 18.30-19.30, Oaken Lab Ubud.
- Mata Badai, a live performance of stories, poetry and song by Dee Lestari: 24/10, 18.30-20.00, Titik Dua.
- Ali Sethi: Ghazal, Music and The Pathways of Longing: 25/10, Agung Stage.
Free to join
You do not need a pass for everything. The programme has a Free Events section, including Malam Temu Sastra, an evening that brings together people from across Indonesia’s literary scene (22/10, 18.30-20.00, Honeymoon Garden), and The Magical World of Batik (24/10, 10.00-11.30, Yellow Coco Nest). Both ask you to register first. New this year, Indonesian school students (SD, SMP and SMA) get free entry.
Passes at a glance
- 4-Day Festival Pass (22/10 to 25/10, over 100 sessions): International IDR 7.800.000, Indonesian IDR 1.700.000, KITAS/KITAP and ASEAN IDR 3.900.000.
- 1-Day Festival Pass: International IDR 2.400.000, Indonesian IDR 600.000, KITAS/KITAP and ASEAN IDR 1.400.000.
- Student rates apply with a valid student card; Indonesians show their KTP on site.
- Special events, workshops and cultural sessions need separate tickets. Some have sold out, so check before you go.
Getting around
Parking is limited, so leave the car. Free festival shuttles run every 30 minutes from 08.00 to 19.00, from Museum Puri Lukisan on Jalan Raya Ubud to DI SINI DI SANA on Jalan Raya Lungsiakan. Taxis and ojek are easy to order, and drivers can be hired for the day. Bring a refillable bottle: there are water stations at Taman Baca and Indus. The festival’s daily schedule online lets you bookmark sessions and save them to your calendar.
Staying for a few nights? See our guide to what to do in Ubud and our pick of where to stay in Bali.
