| Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) | |
|---|---|
Alang-Alang Stage at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival venue
| |
| Genre | Literary festival |
| Location(s) | Ubud, Bali, Indonesia |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Previous event | 18–22 October 2023 |
| Next event | 23–27 October 2024 |
| Website | www |
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) is an annual four-day literary festival held every October in Ubud on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Established in 2004, it is considered Southeast Asia’s biggest and most meaningful literary Festival. It hosts up to 170 writers and artists from all corners of the world. Discussions on cultural, literary and political issues are held alongside book launches, film premieres, long-table lunches, workshops, readings, live music, village walks and performances.[1] It is organised by the not-for-profit foundation Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati.[2]
The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival[3] was first conceived by Melbourne-born Janet DeNeefe, co-founder of the Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati, together with her native Balinese husband Ketut Suardana, and their daughter Laksmi DeNeefe Suardana as a healing project in response to the first 2002 Bali bombings.[4][5][6] It was first held in 2004 as part of an effort to help revive tourism, the island’s main economic lifeline after terrorist bombings devastated the island’s Kuta district a year earlier.[7][8]
Since 2019, the Festival’s Perth Edition, presented in partnership with Writing WA, has provided an annual forum to exchange views with writers and creators from both countries on a wide range of topics. After two years in virtual form in 2020 and 2021, the Perth Edition was held in person again in the Rechabite Hall in the Australian city of Perth, Western Australia between 21–23 October 2022.[9]
The Festival is known as the biggest Festival of words and ideas in Southeast Asia, in which many celebrated writers, artists, thinkers, and performers participate.[10][11] In 2019 the Festival was named one of the top five literary festivals in the world by The Daily Telegraph in the UK,[12][13] and in 2022, it was chosen as one of the prime cultural festivals in autumn by The Wall Street Journal.[14] In 2023, it was named South-East Asia’s most significant literary event by the Australian weekly newspaper, The Saturday Paper.[15] In 2024, it was named one of the best literary festivals to visit around the world by Dua Lipa's lifestyle platform Service 95.[16]
"Karma" is the theme of the 16th annual Ubud Writers and Readers Festival...
