Summer events in Bali are in full swing. From epic happy hours to the annual Bali Kite Festival, the island is buzzing with summertime fun. But even amidst all the fun in the sun, it’s also a time to look ahead. Year after year, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is one of the biggest events on the island. The initial line-up for 2017 has just been announced. Join us for a sneak peek at Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017!
What is Ubud Writers & Readers Festival?
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is an annual event first founded back in 2002. Since then, the festival has evolved into one of the leading literary and artistic events on the planet and sees many a festivalgoer returning year after year. Ubud Writers & Readers Festival brings together Indonesian and international authors, artists and activists and features inspiring panel discussions, workshops, book launches and more. The festival takes place in Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital. Past attendees include cultural heavy hitters ranging from Junot Diaz to Nick Cave and from Alexander McCall Smith to Lionel Shriver and Hanya Yanagihara.
When Is It?
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 will take place on 25 – 29 October, 2017.
Who’s Attending?
A sneak peek of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 line-up was announced on July 17. So far, the highlights include bestselling British crime writer Ian Rankin; Canadian author Madeleine Thien; author Saroo Brierley, who’s novel Lion was adapted into an Academy Award nominated motion picture of the same name; Tim Flannery, founder of the Australian Climate Council and acclaimed Indonesian authors Seno Gumira Ajidarma and Leila S. Chudori. The full line-up for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 will be announced in August.
How Much Are the Tickets and Where Can I Buy Them?
Early bird tickets for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 are on sale now. Buying the four-day Main Program Pass now gives you access to 72 panel sessions hosted in the festival’s three main venues and saves you 20% of the normal ticket price.
The Early Bird Four-Day Main Program Pass is priced at IDR 3,200,000 (USD $240) for international visitors, with special rates available for Indonesian citizens, ASEAN passport holders and foreigners residing in Indonesia with a KITAS, business, social budaya, DINAs or retirement visa.
Tickets are available online on the festival’s website. Early Bird tickets are available until August 16, when the full line-up for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 is announced.
Anything Else I Should Know?
Though the focus of the festival is on literature, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival offers a wide range of other cultural events and workshops as well. The festival offers live music and poetry readings, as well as hosting different culinary experiences where you might just find yourself dining with a best-selling author! Some of these special events are not included in the festival’s main program and an additional fee may apply.
Every year, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival offers a range of free events which will be marked clearly on the festival program. Another way to enjoy the festival magic for free is to sign up as a festival volunteer. Applications for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 volunteers will open in early August.
What About Accommodation?
As with any major festival, it’s good to plan your accommodation for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 way in advance to avoid disappointment. Ubud offers plenty of great accommodation ranging from cheap and cheerful to jaw-droopingly luxurious. Here are a few of our Ubud accommodation favourites.
Aria Villas offers great value in the heart of Ubud. The estate’s private one and three-bedroom villas are within a ten-minute stroll of Ubud’s main street which means it’s very easy to get around. Each villa has a private pool and offers soothing privacy from the outside world.
Aria Villas
Price: From USD $229 per night
Villa Melati is the stuff of tropical dreams. The four-bedroom villa sits perched on the Sayan Ridge, offering lush views of the rainforest from a beautifully curved pool. The villa is staffed with an in-house chef and has a gorgeous natural décor perfectly complementing Bali’s pristine nature. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful villas in Ubud.
Villa Melati
Price: From USD $451 per night
If you want to experience the very best Ubud has to offer, the immaculate Viceroy Bali estate is the perfect choice. The five-star resort is routinely described with words like “incredible“ and “paradise“ and looking at those poolside views, it’s easy to see why. Each of Viceroy Bali’s one-bedroom villas comes with a private pool and the resort houses an amazing spa and the fine-dining CasCades restaurant.
Viceroy Bali
Price: From USD $800 per night
Browse and book Ubud villas or contact our villa specialists for personalised assistance.
Feeling the festival fever? Stay up to date on all things Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2017 by subscribing to the UWRF newsletter on the festival’s website.
