Guide for Bali Arts Festival in Indonesia 2025 & 2026
Bali Arts Festival is also known as Pesta Kesenian Bali (PKB). It is one of Indonesia's longest-running and most important annual cultural festivals. It aims to preserve and enrich Bali's art and culture, and every event at this festival is open to the public for free. If you're thinking about traveling to Indonesia, then why not visit during this festive season to truly experience Bali at its most energetic time?
When is the Bali Arts Festival in 2025 & 2026
Held annually since 1979, the Bali Arts Festival is a month-long celebration of Indonesian culture, typically starting on the second Saturday of June and running until mid-July. The exact date of 2026 has not been confirmed yet, we will keep focus and update it once it is confirmed. If you decide to come and experience the Bali Arts Festival 2026, be sure to check the exact dates in advance. For your reference, it lasted from June 21 to July 19, 2025.
During the month-long period, you can see very exciting live performances such as art, costumes, and handicrafts every day. In addition to that, you can also see dance performances, shadow puppets, and music competitions. With hundreds of local and international artists taking the stage, there's something for all ages to enjoy during this period.
The Theme of the Bali Arts Festival 2025
The Bali Arts Festival has a different theme every year, and the theme of 2025 is "Jagat Kerthi: Lokahita Samudaya," which means "Universal Harmony for the Common Good". This theme aims to emphasize Bali's core values of unity and balance, encouraging people to appreciate the concept of harmony with the environment and each other.
Artists from all over the world will present visitors with an exquisite artistic feast. You will not only see the colorful parade but also the passionate folk dance. They use various forms to express their understanding of the relationship between humans and nature, and you will surely enjoy the lively atmosphere of the festival. The theme for 2026 has not yet been decided. Stay tuned, and we will give you the first information as soon as it is announced.
Traditional Folk Dance
Where to Celebrate the Bali Arts Festival
The Bali Arts Festival will be held at the Denpasar Arts Center, which is a huge architectural complex with local artistic style. On weekdays, as a tourist attraction, there may not be too many tourists. But by mid-June, when the Bali Art Festival starts, it will be the busiest time here. Dance competitions, music performances, and art exhibitions will attract tourists from all over the world. In addition, there will be some open-air parades. The whole art center is like a garden. There are many Southeast Asian-style buildings with local characteristics. The environment here is beautiful. During the festival, there will be a stage and an audience. You can look up the festival's performance schedule on the official website in advance, pick out some of your favorite shows, and arrange a reasonable time to watch and attend.
Feel the Atmosphere of the Festival
What Kind of Performances Can You Appreciate
The Opening Parade
The Bali Arts Festival will kick off with a very grand and unique exotic cultural parade. It will start from Renon Square, and the parade will pass through a main road in Bali. At this parade, hundreds of artists will be participating. Some of them are from all over the world, and some are local artists from eight provinces in Bali. You will see some traditional Indonesian costumes and musical instruments, as well as some other Indonesian island ambassadors and floats. If you want to fully feel the festive atmosphere, you can try to watch it closely. For example, the two sides of the main road will be a good choice, but it may be hot, so it will be recommended to do sun protection in advance.
Open-Air Amphitheatre
The performance of the open-air theater is also not to be missed. The characteristic dance of Bali is called Balinese Dance. Influenced by religious ideas, the Bali dance will involve the expression of the gods. Mainly based on these, you will see all kinds of traditional Balinese dances, impromptu performances by Balinese children, and cooperation in vocal music, music, and dance.
Bali Traditional Dance
Arts Exhibitions
If you want to watch special programs besides traditional cultural performances, then this event below is definitely for you. There will also be a series of food, flower arrangement, fashion and craft stalls at the exhibition. You can browse through these various stalls, taste traditional Balinese food, admire outstanding local handicrafts or buy some of your favorite traditional Balinese clothing. If you find something you like, it would be a good idea to buy it as a souvenir for your friends.
How to Get There for the Celebration
Denpasar is the largest city in the province of Bali, it is also the public transportation hub of Bali where you can take a taxi to the area you want to reach. In addition to public transportation, you can also choose to travel by motorcycle, which is a lighter way to move around. The city layout of Denpasar is very unique in that it is a close combination of villages and historic Indian temples. So you can enjoy seeing old temples and lively villages along the way.
Mask Dance Performance in Bali
Where to Stay During the Bali Arts Festival
If you want to best experience the Bali Arts Festival, you can choose to stay at a hotel near the Bali Arts Center. You will not only see the real, original Balinese life here but also have enough time to visit the art museum, concert hall, amphitheater, etc. In addition, you can also visit the traditional market, where all kinds of fruits and vegetables, handicrafts, and spices are available, and the lively atmosphere will surely let you fully immerse yourself in the life of the locals. The prices of goods here will also be suitable because most shopkeepers are simple locals, so you can buy with confidence.
Tips for Joining the Bali Arts Festival
(1) Weather and Clothes
Bali is located at the equator. It belongs to the tropical rainforest climate, which is hot and humid. June and July are two relatively comfortable months in Bali, with an average temperature of 22 to 27 degrees Celsius. It would be a good idea to bring light and cool clothes. Although this is not the rainy season, you can bring an umbrella just in case.
(2) Sun Protection
Although the temperature in June and July is relatively comfortable, sun protection can not be ignored. There will be some outdoor parades at the Bali Arts Festival, so you can bring a sun-protective jacket, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect the skin. You may run out of water in high temperatures, so it would be wise to bring a water bottle.
(3) Take Care of Personal Belongings and Children
During this month of the Bali Art Festival, Bali will become very crowded. You must keep an eye on your valuables. Especially, if you are carrying some cash, keep the cash in your bag. You can also choose to store it in the hotel safe. A little cash out would be fine. If you want to bring your children along to experience the exotic atmosphere of Indonesia, make sure you do not let them out of your sight.
(4) Local Language Learning
The official languages of Bali are Indonesian and English. English is enough in most cases. But just in case, you can learn some simple and everyday Indonesian. You can say "om suastiastu" in Indonesian, which means hello. And "happiness" in Indonesian for happiness in English.
(5) Reservation of Accommodation and Tickets
Bali Art Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Indonesia, which will attract tourists from all over the world. So during this month period, Bali will have a high population density. It is definitely a good idea to confirm your accommodation and tickets ahead of time. You can book a hotel near the festival venue, which can save time and cost of transportation.
Plan Your Bali Tour With Odynovo
If you want to better experience the traditional culture and history of Bali, then the Bali Art Festival must be one of your best choices. Traveling with Odynovo, you can feel the artistic culture with mysterious religious colors at your pace.
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