Festival

Bali Kite Festival

Ancient Skies Above Sanur Beach

The Bali Kite Festival has deep spiritual roots — kites are traditionally flown to send messages to the Hindu gods and give thanks for the harvest. Today it is also a spectacular competition, with enormous handcrafted kites up to 10 metres long filling the sky above Sanur beach in a breathtaking display of colour and skill.

Kite flying in Bali is not merely a pastime — it is a sacred tradition with roots stretching back centuries. In the Balinese Hindu tradition, kites (known locally as layang-layang) are flown as a form of communication with the gods, particularly during the rice growing season, when it is believed that kites carry prayers to the heavens to bring blessings of good weather, good harvests, and the protection of crops. The humming sound made by traditional Balinese kites — created by a bamboo string stretched across the frame — is said to please the gods and ward off evil spirits.

The Bali Kite Festival, held annually in Sanur during July, began as a way to preserve and celebrate this ancient tradition in an organised, competitive setting. Teams of kite-makers from all nine regencies of Bali spend months constructing enormous kites by hand — using bamboo frames, hand-painted cloth, and intricate decorative elements — in three traditional shapes: bebean (fish-shaped), janggan (bird-shaped with a long tail), and pecukan (leaf-shaped). The largest of these giants can measure 10 metres in length with tails stretching 100 metres or more, requiring teams of 80–100 people to launch and control them.

The competition takes place at the wide, wind-swept Padanggalak beach in Sanur, where the regular afternoon sea breeze provides ideal conditions. Judging is based on the kite's ability to fly stably and high, the beauty of its decoration, and the musicality of its humming sound in the wind. The atmosphere on competition days is electric — thousands of spectators crowd the beach, gamelan music fills the air, and the sky above is filled with dozens of enormous, brilliantly coloured kites fighting for altitude against a backdrop of cumulus clouds.

Beyond the main competition, the festival features exhibitions, cultural performances, food stalls serving traditional Balinese snacks, and smaller kite flying areas where visitors of all ages can try their hand at launching a Balinese kite. International kite flyers from Japan, France, Australia, and beyond often bring their own spectacular creations to fly alongside the Balinese giants, adding an international flavour to the event.

Highlights

  • ✓ Enormous traditional kites up to 10 metres long, requiring 80–100 people to fly
  • ✓ Three traditional kite shapes: bebean (fish), janggan (bird), and pecukan (leaf)
  • ✓ Competition drawing teams from all nine regencies of Bali
  • ✓ International kite flyers from Japan, France, Australia, and beyond
  • ✓ Live gamelan music and traditional Balinese food stalls on the beach
  • ✓ Visitor kite flying area — try launching your own Balinese kite

Practical information

Location
Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
Admission
Free for spectators.
Best time
Weekend mornings (10am–1pm) and afternoons (2pm–5pm) when winds are strongest and competition kites are flying.
Category
Festival

Tips for visitors

  • • The main competition heats take place on weekend mornings and afternoons throughout July — check the official schedule.
  • • Arrive by 10am to secure a good viewing spot on the beach before the crowds build.
  • • Bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water — the beach in July can be very hot with little shade.
  • • The best photography is mid-afternoon when the kites are highest and the light is good.
  • • Bring binoculars to appreciate the intricate decoration on the giant kites from a distance.
  • • Sanur itself is a lovely, relaxed beach town — stay the night and explore its cafés and restaurants.
  • • Strong winds can change competition schedules — follow the Bali Kite Festival social media for updates.

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