Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
UWRF 2026

Held annually in Ubud, Bali’s cultural heartland, the festival is Southeast Asia’s flagship literary organisation.

Praised worldwide for its diverse and intimate program, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival gathers over 150 of the world’s most exciting writers, thinkers, and performers for five days of electrifying conversation, thoughtful debate, and joyful celebration of literary culture. Alongside author in-conversations and panel discussions are a wide-ranging offering of Indonesian dance and performance, literary lunches, guided tours of Ubud’s famous markets, temples and rice fields, late night comedy, musical, and spoken word galas, as well as book launches, workshops, and events designed to enrich and inspire the imaginations of emerging writers and young people.

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) returns from 21 to 25 October 2026! This year, the festival embraces the theme of Samarasā: Awareness. Empathy. Action, the theme that will reflect on how thought, feeling, and action can exist in harmony, with awareness bringing clarity, empathy building connection, and action turning insight into purpose.

Participating Writers