Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival takes place Oct 21 - 25, 2026 (23rd edition, theme 'Samarasa') in Ubud, Indonesia. The dress code is Smart casual tropical; light breathable fabrics for daytime sessions and a light layer plus umbrella for evening rain. Typical cost ranges from 300 to 900 EUR per person.
Southeast Asia's leading literary festival, set among the rice terraces and temples of Bali's cultural heartland. Across 100-plus sessions it mixes international authors with Indonesian writers, plus music, film and workshops spread through Ubud's villas and cafes. The 2026 edition runs Oct 21 - 25 under the theme 'Samarasa'.
- When
- Oct 21 - 25, 2026 (23rd edition, theme 'Samarasa')
- Where
- Ubud, Indonesia
- Dress code
- Smart casual tropical; light breathable fabrics for daytime sessions and a light layer plus umbrella for evening rain.
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 300 to 900 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 26 - 31C, warm and humid at the start of the wet season; afternoon showers likely
- When to book
- Early-bird passes on sale months ahead via the festival site; book central Ubud rooms 2+ months out
- Getting there
- DPS (Denpasar), 90 min to Ubud
- Where to stay
- Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, COMO Uma Ubud, Alaya Resort Ubud (value)
- Official site
- https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/
How to attend
Buy a 4-day festival pass or single-day passes at ubudwritersfestival.com (early-bird pricing is significantly cheaper, with discounts for students and ASEAN citizens). Many satellite events are free or pay-as-you-go. Book passes and Ubud accommodation well ahead - the town's best rooms go early in festival week.
Insider tip
The free and low-cost satellite events - long-table dinners, poetry slams and film nights - are where the festival's real conviviality happens, so do not just buy the day pass and leave at 5pm.
Get inside Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Booking matters here: early-bird passes on sale months ahead via the festival site; book central Ubud rooms 2+ months out. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.