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.
Over the years, we have presented the likes of Nick Cave, Richard Flanagan, Hanya Yanagihara, Jeffrey Eugenides, Colson Whitehead, Anne Enright, Teju Cole, Yotam Ottolenghi, Fatima Bhutto, Amitav Ghosh, Mohsin Hamid, Etgar Keret, Audrey Magee, Shehan Karunatilaka, and many more—all in friendly, relaxed, and beautiful tropical surroundings.
In 2023, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary edition. Conceived in 2003 as a community-healing response to the first Bali bombing, the last two decades has seen the festival grow significantly and develop a loyal audience.
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According to a 2021 World Bank report, over 7.8 million tons of plastic are produced in Indonesia annually, making it the second-largest plastic waste producer after China. Approximately 83 percent …
Get ready to immerse yourself in a literary celebration like no other as the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) returns for its momentous 20th anniversary festival from 18-22 October …
Sister festival:
