Arts & Culture
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Words, Ideas & Stories from Around the World
One of Asia's most celebrated literary events, bringing together hundreds of authors, thinkers, and artists from around the world to the cultural heart of Bali. Set across Ubud's beautiful garden venues, UWRF offers talks, workshops, panel discussions, book launches, and nightly performances in an atmosphere unlike any other festival.
The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) was founded in 2004 by Janet DeNeefe in the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings, as a way to help revive Bali's devastated tourism economy while celebrating literature and ideas. What began as an intimate gathering of writers has grown into one of the most prestigious literary festivals in Asia, drawing hundreds of authors, poets, journalists, thinkers, and cultural figures from over 30 countries each year to Ubud — a town that has been a magnet for artists and writers since Walter Spies and Colin McPhee made it their home in the 1930s.
The festival is held across a constellation of beautiful open-air venues scattered through Ubud — riverside garden pavilions, rice paddy terraces, traditional Balinese family compounds, the royal palace, and intimate café stages — creating an atmosphere utterly unlike any conference hall literary festival. Morning sessions begin as the mist rolls over the river gorge; afternoon panels take place under the shade of frangipani trees; evening readings are conducted by candlelight.
The programme spans an exceptional range of themes — from fiction, poetry, and memoir to environmental issues, human rights, politics, spirituality, food, and the arts — all viewed through the distinctive lens of Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Past speakers have included Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, political dissidents, Pulitzer Prize journalists, spiritual teachers, and emerging voices from across the archipelago. A significant portion of the programme is dedicated to Indonesian and Balinese writers, ensuring the festival remains deeply rooted in its home culture.
Beyond the formal programme, UWRF is beloved for its atmosphere of spontaneous connection. Writers and readers mingle freely at the festival café, at book launches, at the nightly closing parties, and throughout Ubud's restaurants and market. The festival has a reputation for being one of the most socially enjoyable literary events in the world — intimate enough that you can end up in conversation with a Booker Prize winner over breakfast, yet large enough to feel genuinely energising and international.
Highlights
- ✓ Hundreds of authors, thinkers, and cultural figures from 30+ countries
- ✓ Sessions across stunning open-air garden venues, a royal palace, and jungle pavilions
- ✓ Morning readings, afternoon panels, evening candlelit performances, and late-night parties
- ✓ Strong programme of Indonesian and Balinese writers alongside international guests
- ✓ One of the most socially intimate and enjoyable literary festivals in the world
- ✓ Founded after the 2002 Bali bombings — a festival with genuine heart and purpose
Practical information
- Location
- Ubud, Bali
- Admission
- Individual event tickets from approx. $10–$25 USD. Multi-day passes available. Many community events are free.
- Best time
- Mornings for open-air readings in the mist; evenings for candlelit performances and the festival atmosphere.
- Category
- Arts & Culture
Tips for visitors
- • Register for individual sessions on the UWRF website — popular talks sell out weeks in advance.
- • Many free and low-cost community events run alongside the ticketed programme — check the full schedule.
- • Stay in Ubud itself; the festival's magic extends into the restaurants, streets, and markets.
- • The festival café is a great place to meet other book-lovers and sometimes encounter speakers informally.
- • Evenings are the most atmospheric — the closing parties and candlelit readings are not to be missed.
- • Browse the festival bookshop for signed editions and Indonesian titles you won't find elsewhere.
- • October in Ubud can bring afternoon rain showers — carry a light rain jacket to outdoor sessions.
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.