Music Festival
Bali International Choir Festival
One of Asia's Largest Choir Competitions
The Bali International Choir Festival (BICF) is one of the biggest choral competitions in Asia, drawing hundreds of choirs and thousands of singers from across Indonesia and around the world. Held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, it features competitive categories, grand concerts, and a joyful celebration of voices from every corner of the globe.
Organised by the Bandung Choral Society, the Bali International Choir Festival has grown into one of the largest and most respected choral events in Asia. Each edition brings together hundreds of choirs — school groups, university ensembles, community choirs, and professional vocal groups — from dozens of countries, all converging on Bali to compete, perform, and share their love of choral music.
The festival is structured around competitive categories spanning everything from folklore and gospel to sacred music, pop, and mixed-voice classical repertoire. Adjudicated by an international panel of choral experts, the competitions are serious and high-standard, yet the overriding atmosphere is one of warmth, cultural exchange, and celebration. For visitors, it is a rare chance to hear world-class choral singing all in one place.
Beyond the competition stages, the festival programme usually includes friendship concerts, a parade of nations, and grand gala performances that fill the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center with sound. Choirs in national and traditional dress turn the venue into a colourful, festive gathering, and the closing awards ceremony is a highlight in itself.
The festival is held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) in the resort enclave of Nusa Dua, making it easy to combine with a beach-resort stay in the south of the island. Editions do not run every single year and dates vary, so check with the organisers (Bandung Choral Society) for the next festival's schedule and how to attend.
Highlights
- ✓ Hundreds of choirs and thousands of singers from around the world
- ✓ Competitive categories from folklore and gospel to sacred and classical
- ✓ An international panel of expert choral adjudicators
- ✓ Friendship concerts, a parade of nations, and grand gala performances
- ✓ Choirs performing in national and traditional dress
- ✓ Held in the comfortable resort enclave of Nusa Dua
Practical information
- Location
- Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Nusa Dua
- Admission
- Spectator tickets are sold via the organisers; some competition sessions are free or low-cost to watch — confirm on the official festival channels.
- Best time
- Evening gala and friendship concerts showcase the festival at its most spectacular.
- Category
- Music Festival
Tips for visitors
- • Check the Bandung Choral Society channels for the next edition's dates and ticketing.
- • Spectator access to many competition sessions is low-cost or free — confirm in advance.
- • Arrive early for popular gala concerts, which draw big audiences.
- • Nusa Dua and nearby Benoa have plenty of resort accommodation within easy reach.
- • Singers competing should book accommodation early, as choirs fill nearby hotels.
- • Bring a light jacket — the convention halls are strongly air-conditioned.
- • Stay for the closing awards ceremony, one of the festival's most moving moments.
Plan around this event
- All Bali events & festivals — calendar of what's on across the year.
- AI Bali Trip Planner — build a personalised itinerary around the event dates.
- Where to stay in Bali — area guide and accommodation search.
- Bali visa & entry requirements — visa-free, VOA and e-VOA explained.