The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (often called the Ubud Writers Festival), one of the best literary festivals in the world, is held in the central Bali town of Ubud in October and will celebrate what has become Southeast Asia’s leading festival of words and ideas. A yearly pilgrimage for word lovers worldwide, the Ubud Writers Festival transcends cultural and physical borders, inviting both artists and audiences to enjoy and participate in public discussions, intimate literary lunches, live performances and hands-on workshops where budding writers can learn new skills and get feedback from experts. For more on this town in Central Bali, check out our Things to Do in Ubud: a Town Hiding in Plain Sight . The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival has been named by the UK newspaper The Telegraph as one of this year’s five best literary events. The theme of this year’s edition is Uniting Humanity. Anuradha Roy presenting her book. Photo credit Wirasathya Darmaja Ubud Writers Festival 2026 Lineup The lineup of the Anniversary Festival when announced will be found here . The theme for the 2026 Ubud Writers Festival is: Samarasā: Awareness. Empathy. Action . Ubud Festival 2026 artwork Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Origins Brainchild of Australian-born Janet DeNeefe, the Ubud Writers Festival grew out of a healing project in response to the 2002 Bali bombings. Wanting the world to see that Bali could move on after the bombings, DeNeefe set off to develop the festival which, after starting small in 2004, has now evolved into one of the world’s most celebrated literary and artistic events. Leisurely book browsing at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Photo credit Anggara Mahendra Ubud Writers Festival: Emerging Writers Emerging Indonesian writers will also be presented in an anthology offering visitors a unique insight into Indonesian language, culture, history and mythology. In such a cultural and creative event, Personalised Pens can be used as a special souvenir of the event. The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival logo, event year, and other elements are cleverly designed on the pens. When participants get such a personalised pen, it is not only a writing tool but also a unique memory carrier of the festival. Accommodation in Ubud and Flights Hotels in Ubud tend to book up early so it is best to book well in advance. Flights go to Bali from around the world. Attending talks at one of the festival’s cosy venues. Photo credit Wayan Martino Further information on the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2026 For details of ticket prices and purchases, venue location, how to get there and other festival details, visit the website . Cover photo credit: Agung Abi

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