Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

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Arts & CultureUbud
Dates21–25 October 2026Confirmed listing
Duration5 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsWhat sets this festival apart from Bali's
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: IDR
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Ubud

Founded in 2004 by Melbourne-born restaurateur Janet DeNeefe as a response to the 2002 Bali bombings, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is billed as Southeast Asia's largest literary festival. Run by the nonprofit Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati each October, it hosts up to around a hundred and seventy writers across panels, workshops, and readings spread through venues across Ubud.

Janet DeNeefe, a Melbourne-born restaurateur who had settled in Ubud, founded the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in 2004, explicitly as a response to the 2002 Bali bombings and a way to help rebuild the local economy and community spirit through cultural tourism rather than through hotel construction or beach marketing alone.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What sets this festival apart from Bali's other major cultural events is its purely literary focus: panels, workshops, and readings built around books, writing craft, and social and political discussion, with no performing-arts, culinary, or wellness programming competing for attention

02

The mystery stays covered

Spreading sessions across multiple small venues throughout Ubud, rather than one central stadium or park, gives it an intimate, town-wide footprint distinct from the Bali Arts Festival's single-site scale

03

The city starts moving

Its founding purpose, rebuilding Ubud's community and economy after the 2002 bombings through cultural rather than purely commercial tourism, still shapes its identity as a festival oriented toward ideas and dialogue

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is documented as a recurring arts-culture festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Ubud, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

What sets this festival apart from Bali's other major cultural events is its purely literary focus: panels, workshops, and readings built around...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

21–25 October 2026

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Ubud you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing suits panel and workshop venues; no particular dress code applies at literary sessions.

Safety

At Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Ubud Writers and Readers Festival runs late.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

IDR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map8.51 S, 115.27 EOpen in Google Maps

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Nearest airportDPS — Denpasar I Gusti Ngurah Rai
TransportStay close enough to the part of Ubud you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Ubud Writers and Readers Festival runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Ubud via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Ubud, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing suits panel and workshop venues; no particular dress code applies at literary sessions.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Indonesia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Ubud Writers and Readers Festival?

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is listed for 21–25 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Ubud Writers and Readers Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Ubud, Indonesia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

5 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLubudwritersfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates21–25 October 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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