A Literary Rendezvous: Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2026

For travellers who like their Bali getaway with a side of ideas, October brings one of Southeast Asia's most celebrated literary gatherings to the hills above Sanur. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival returns from 21 to 25 October 2026, themed Samarasā: Awareness, Empathy, Action, bringing together acclaimed authors, poets, journalists and thinkers from Indonesia and abroad for five days of panel discussions, workshops, book launches and live performances.

Now well into its third decade, the festival has grown from a small gathering founded in the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings into one of the region's most respected cultural events, drawing hundreds of international voices to share ideas on everything from fiction and poetry to journalism and social change. Sessions unfold across a range of intimate venues in central Ubud, giving visitors the chance to hear directly from the authors behind some of the world's most talked-about books, often followed by relaxed conversations over coffee or a long-table dinner.

Located roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car from Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur, Ubud is an easy addition to a Sanur stay for guests who want to balance beachside relaxation with a dose of culture and conversation. Even without attending a full day of sessions, simply spending an afternoon wandering Ubud's cultural quarter during festival week has its own appeal, as the town's cafés, galleries and bookshops take on a distinctly literary buzz.

For couples and solo travellers alike, the festival offers a wonderfully different rhythm to a typical Bali holiday: mornings by the pool or along Sanur's quiet beachfront, followed by an afternoon or evening immersed in storytelling and ideas in Ubud. Multi-day festival passes are usually released in stages earlier in the year, so early planning is worthwhile if a particular session or author is the highlight of your trip.

Whichever sessions you choose, returning each evening to the calm, unhurried atmosphere of Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur makes the perfect counterbalance to a day spent among Ubud's literary crowds.