A hint of what to expect from this year’s Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

By creammagazine, January 16, 2026

From October 21 to 25, 2026, authors and artists, poets, activists and performers from around the world will converge for the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), ready to share tales tall and true, and ideas aplenty to hopefully better the world and us humans who inhabit it.

Being Southeast Asia’s premier literary celebration, this year’s gathering will see international and Indonesian creatives contributing to a rich program of conversations, panels, workshops, performances and book launches all while exploring ideas across cultures.

The festival, founded in 2004 by Janet DeNeefe to foster healing and connection through storytelling, also champions emerging voices: ten Indonesian writers were recently selected for the Emerging Writers program, whose works are published and showcased at the festival.

Set amid Ubud’s lush landscapes, UWRF blends literary dialogue with cultural experiences, making it a vibrant meeting place for readers, writers and curious minds from around the world.

Critical topics will include the role of literature in upholding humanity’s values and freedoms, to achieve equality for women and diverse-gender people, and further exploring environmentally sustainable practices.

Expect fiery discussions, powerful performances, long literary lunches, after dark events, and a whole lot more – all in the stunning and serene surrounds of Ubud.

Antonino Tati

For more information visit www.ubudwritersfestival.com.