Ubud is not the only place to immerse yourself in traditional music and art in Bali.

In fact, the biggest art action happens every summer in Denpasar – Bali Arts Festival gathers thousands of people to celebrate Balinese art and culture through endless shows, performances, and parades.

To join the festival, check out our insider guide with things to do, dates, and major highlights of this experience.

Bali Arts Festival Summary Upfront

• Bali Arts Festival is an annual creative festival happening in Denpasar at Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre.
• You will see dances, art exhibitions, competitions, workshops and magnificent traditional costumes and architecture.
• Dates: from mid-June to mid-July.
• Entrance fee: free.

What Is Bali Arts Festival – Pesta Kesenian Bali?

Bali Arts Festival or Pesta Kesenian Bali (PKB) is an annual festival celebrating Balinese culture and traditional arts.

It was first held in 1979 when Governor Ida Bagus Mantra decided that Balinese art should be preserved for future generations.

It is one of the longest-running and most spectacular festival experiences in whole Indonesia.

Online: Instagram

Bali Art Festival 2025 Theme: Universal Harmony

Usually, every year comes with a new theme, which can be Fire, the Spirit of Creation (2019), Purification of the Perfect Soul (2020), Oceans (2023), Universal Harmony (2025) and other concepts highlighting Balinese culture, resources, and values.

Jagat Kerthi: Lokahita Samudaya or Universal Harmony and Common Good was the theme for the Bali arts festival in 2025.

Just like many concepts in Balinese Hinduism, the theme highlights the importance of the balance of different spheres in life, including humans, nature, and the Universe.

Themes for 2026 or 2027 haven’t been announced yet.

When Is The Bali Arts Festival?

The Bali Arts Festival is an annual event. It opens on the second Saturday of June and lasts for the whole month, until late July.

For example, in 2025 Bali Arts Festival lasted from June 21 to July 19, 2025.

Where Is The Bali Arts Festival Held?

The main venue for the Bali Arts Festival is located at Denpasar Arts Center – Taman Werdhi Budaya.

It is a stunning 5-hectare

Address: Jl. Nusa Indah No.1, Sumerta Kelod, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80236, Indonesia

How To Get To the Bali Arts Festival

Bali Arts Festival happens in Denpasar, Bali’s capital, and you can easily get here by bike or car. You don’t need to show a ticket to enter.

From Nusa Dua, Benoa, or Sanur, it will only take about 30 minutes to get here. There will be a free shuttle from Kuta and Nusa Dua on the Opening Parade Day.

If coming from Canggu, the traffic can be dense, and it can take anywhere between 1.5 and 3 hours.

To attend the parade, we would recommend getting a taxi (Grab or Gojek) as there will probably be some closed roads and limited parking in the area.

What To Expect At Bali Arts Festival?

This month-long celebration of rich cultural heritage and modern arts will include theatrical shows, traditional music performances, dance, exhibitions, and educational workshops.

Every day, there will be a few things to do and see here – over that month, Bali Arts festival will host more than 500 events, which means more than 20,000 talents from all over Bali and Indonesia will join.

Visit The Opening Parade

The Bali Arts Festival starts with the Grand Parade called Peed Aya near the Bajra Sandhi monument at Renon Square.

The opening ceremony is very important and the organisers usually invite an authority representative or a distinguished guest to “ring” the traditional wooden bell (kulkul) to kick off the festival with a short speech.

Parade is an amazing opportunity to see traditional Indonesian costumes, musical instruments, and to see some short performances.

If you can only visit the festival for 1 day, the opening day will give that perfect festive atmosphere and highlight what’s coming during the month-long festival.

The Grand Parade usually lasts about 3 hours.

Immerse In Cultural Heritage Through Different Events

The busy daily schedule of the festival introduces you to the full spectrum of performances and visual arts from Bali, the Indonesian islands, and even other countries.

The best way to find out what exhibitions and shows happen day by day is through the official Instagram account and website.

To help you navigate the schedule, here are what different Indonesian names refer to:

The main events are usually Rekasadana – performances and traditional Balinese dances from every village in Bali, from the Barong and Kecak fire dance to Joged Bung-bung and Rejang Dewa dances. They are always accompanied by gamelan music.

Art exhibitions or Kandapura cover pretty much every art and handicraft made in Bali, from photography to traditional painting styles, jewellery, and Wayang puppets. While the main focus of the festival is always Balinese art, you will find crafts from neighbouring islands as well, especially textiles.

Much rarer events during the festival are music, song or other art competitions (Wimbakara), parades (Utsawa), workshops for students and researchers (Kriyaloka), and discussions (Widyatula).

Our favourites are mask offering (canang sari) making classes.

Lectures can also take place at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar and the Bali Provincial Cultural Office (Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi Bali), both located nearby.

Explore Magnificent Balinese Architecture

Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre, home to the festival, is an exquisite testament to skilled Balinese architects in itself.

Take some time to visit all the parts of the complex, from the main amphitheatre, walk over the bridge to the sacred complex, where you can find a Hindu temple used for worship even today.

One of the most curious buildings is the Widya Kusuma Library with quite a few books on Bali’s history.

Try Balinese & Indonesian Food

As the Festival stretches through the whole day, everyone needs a snack.

And Balinese cuisine is a huge part of life in Balinese culture, so between exhibitions and performances, you can try roasted meat (babi guling), smoked duck (bebek betutu), minced meat skewers (sate lilit), or authentic herb, coconut, and meat salad (lawar) at a few food stalls set up within the complex.

Attend Closing Ceremony

The last show at the open-air theatre (Ardha Candra) every year is the most epic one – Sendratari, which is a traditional Balinese dance drama.

Tips To Have The Best Festival Experience @ Bali Arts Festival

• It will be hot, so bring your own water bottle.
• Cover your shoulders and knees if you want to visit the temple within the complex.
• Most places are open-air, so take sunscreen with you.
• Bring a local friend with you or a guide to help you understand the performances – the official languages of the festivals are Balinese and Indonesian. However, in recent years, big shows have had introductions in English as more and more tourists visit the festival.
• If you’re attending the Grand Parade, come early. The monument sits in a park in Renon, a hub of Balinese-style municipal buildings that are incredibly beautiful and each surrounded by gardens.

FAQs

Where Is The Bali Arts Festival 2026?

Bali Arts Festival 2026 will be at the Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre from mid-June to mid-July 2026. The exact dates will be posted on the festival’s official social media accounts in 2026.

Is Bali Arts Festival Free?

Most events at the Bali Arts Festival are completely free for visitors.

However, for some special shows at the big outdoor stage, you will have to purchase a cheap ticket (about 1-2 AUD in previous years)

What Is The Biggest Festival In Bali?

The Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali) is the largest and longest festival in Bali dedicated to traditional arts, music, and dance. It happens every year and lasts a whole month, bringing thousands of artists and visitors.

What Is The 3-Day Festival in Bali?

One of the most popular 3-day festivals in Bali is Ubud Food Festival – an annual festival with local food, arak tasting, live music, and activities for families.

Final Thoughts On Bali Arts Festival

While you can watch traditional dance shows at Uluwatu Temple or Ubud Palace, Bali Arts Festival offers an array of arts and shows you won’t see anywhere in the world!

If you happen to be in Bali in June or July, make sure to check out what talented Balinese performers and artists have to offer.