If you’re travelling to Bali this 2025 and want to experience something you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world, then make sure to align your holiday with some of the island’s most special events! From cultural festivals to music concerts and food bazaars galore, this year promises a calendar jam-packed with entertainment. So without further ado, let’s explore the highlights of this year’s festivities!
January 2025
The Suwat Water Festival – January 1, 2025
The new year begins not with a bang, but with a splash in Gianyar Regency. This event is where locals celebrate the abundance of water in their region. It kicks off with worship at the village temple, but the real highlight is the Siat Yet or Water War.
Villagers split into four teams led by their leaders, each starting from a different direction. They converge at the main crossing for a massive water fight, chucking buckets of holy water over each other.
Details aren’t widely available online, so your best bet is to chat with friendly locals who can fill you in on this epic water battle.
Lunar New Year – January 29, 2025
Later in the month, the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, arrives. While Bali is predominantly Hindu, the sizeable Chinese Indonesian community celebrates with remarkable enthusiasm.
Expect temples to be transformed into breathtaking displays of colour, adorned with vibrant red lanterns, shimmering money trees (symbolic of prosperity), and other auspicious decorations.
The Satya Dharma Temple near Benoa Port is a particularly stunning location to witness these festivities, and you’ll feel the festive atmosphere even outside the temple walls.
February 2025
Saraswati Day – February 8, 2025
Saraswati Day is a day dedicated to Dewi Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge. While not a singular, large-scale event, the entire island takes on a more contemplative mood. You’ll notice increased offerings at temples and homes, especially from schoolchildren expressing gratitude for the gift of learning. Offerings are made to books, and families often spend the evening engaged in quiet reading and reflection.
The days following Saraswati Day continue the theme, each dedicated to a specific aspect: wisdom, prosperity, wealth, culminating in Pagerwesi, a day for strengthening oneself spiritually and making large family offerings. In some areas, visits to ancestral graves are also part of the Pagerwesi tradition.
March 2025
Nyepi – March 29, 2025
March brings Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, a uniquely spiritual and transformative experience unlike any other. For 24 hours, starting on March 29 and ending on March 30, the entire island falls silent – a voluntary pause, a collective meditation. Shops, restaurants, and even the airport close their doors, creating a profound atmosphere of stillness and introspection.
But the lead-up to Nyepi is arguably even more spectacular, a fascinating journey through a series of rituals and ceremonies.
- The Melasti Ceremony, three days prior, involves cleansing rituals and processions to the sea.
- The Tawur Agung Kesanga and Mecaru Ceremonies, the day before, involve the creation and offering of sacred objects.
- Then comes the incredible Ogoh Ogoh parades – these giant, often grotesque, effigies of demons and mythical creatures are paraded through the streets, symbolizing the purging of evil.
- The Mesabatan Api (fire war), a dramatic display of fire and ritual, adds another layer of intensity to the eve. The air crackles with a palpable energy where you can feel the spiritual cleansing.
Omed-Omedan Kissing Festival – March 30, 2025
Omed-Omedan, celebrated after Nyepi in Denpasar’s Sesetan suburb, is a lively tradition. Single men and women line up facing each other. When signalled, they rush together, sharing kisses while spectators douse ’em with buckets of water – earning it the “Kissing Festival” moniker. Many even find romance here too.
But there’s more than just smooching. Local markets flaunt Balinese crafts, while traditional dances and live music make it a vibrant cultural experience for all ages. There’s even a comedy show in Indonesian before the ritual kicks off.
April 2025
Semarapura Festival – April 28 to May 1, 2025
Once a year, the streets of Klungkung Regency come alive with the sights and sounds of Semarapura – an annual festival celebrating their victory over Dutch colonists in 1908. It’s a lively celebration filled with traditional dances, music, food stalls and crafts.
You’ll see unique ancient dances like baris jangkang and sanghyang jaran from local villages. The event is a brilliant way to promote Semarapura and the wider region as a top-notch tourist destination. Most of the festivities take place around the stunning 18th-century Kerta Gosa pavilion, and you can even join guided tours to soak up the town’s fascinating history.
May 2025
Mekotek – May 3, 2025
Mekotek in Munggu Village is a unique Balinese tradition where villagers carry long bamboo poles through the streets, all adorned with coconut leaves while chanting away. Then, they’ll form large groups, holding their poles together to make a makeshift human ladder. Other villagers have to climb up and create the most stable human tower they can manage. It’s truly a sight you need to see!
The Bali Spirit Festival – May 7 to 11, 2025
The Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud is Asia’s largest yoga and wellness festival. This five-day extravaganza offers a diverse range of activities, from various styles of yoga and meditation to ecstatic dance, sound healing, and breathwork.
Workshops and talks cover a wide spectrum of wellness topics. A vibrant market that provides healthy food and drink options, and evenings feature live music and DJs. It’s a transformative experience for those seeking physical, mental, and spiritual rejuvenation.
Ubub Open Studios – May 22 to 25, 2025
Ubud also comes alive with creativity during the Ubud Open Studios, where dozens of artists open their doors to the public, offering a unique opportunity to see traditional Balinese art in action, engage with artisans, and even participate in workshops.
Ubud Food Festival – May 30 to June 2, 2025
The Ubud Food Festival takes place at Taman Kuliner and is all about celebrating the rich and diverse culinary scene of Indonesia. It brings together the culinary heritage, fresh and innovative ideas, the ever-evolving changes, and the dynamism of the food industry, as well as the fascinating stories behind their beloved dishes. It’s a proper feast for the senses, and if you’re a foodie, you definitely can’t miss this!
June 2025
Bali International Film Festival Balinale – June 1 to 7, 2025
The Balinale International Film Festival is a captivating celebration of cinema, where diverse genres and cultures converge on the silver screen. This prestigious event serves as a stage for filmmakers to showcase their craft and get into the nitty-gritty of the art form. Alongside the screenings, you can look forward to Q&A sessions where you can ask the directors and get the inside scoop on how they made their movies.
Ultra Bali – June 6 to 7, 2025
Bali’s Ultra music festival is a massive two-day party that goes off each summer at one of the island’s swankiest beach clubs. It’s part of the legendary Ultra Music Festival brand that kicked things off with Ultra Miami years ago.
This epic party pulls in some of the biggest names in electronic dance music to man the decks. World-famous DJs like Afrojack, Skrillex, Alesso, and Steve Angello have all played at Ultra Bali in recent years, so if you’re one to party, make sure to book your tickets in advance!
Soekarno Kite Festival – June 8, 2025
The Soekarno Kite Competition, taking place in Sanur, is aimed at preserving traditional culture while honoring Indonesia’s first President, Ir. Soekarno. The event draws hundreds of skilled kite-makers who turn the sky into a canvas of giant, intricately designed kites. This is more than just a competition; it’s a testament to Balinese ingenuity and artistry.
Tenganan Pegringsingan Culture Festival – June 21 to 23, 2025
The ancient village of Tenganan hosts the Tenganan Pegringsingan Culture Festival, a fascinating glimpse into unique traditions. The highlight is the Pandan Wars, a playful but intense battle between young men using pandan leaves and rattan shields. The Manyunan swing ceremony, with young women gently swayed by the village’s young men, offers another unique perspective on Balinese culture.
Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali) – June 21 to July 19, 2025
The Bali Arts Festival is one of Bali’s biggest and longest-running events, every year it is held at the Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre in Denpasar. It kicks off with a massive street parade, thousands of performers strutting their stuff from the capital’s Bajra Sandhi Monument to the event venue.
The festivities last a full month from mid-June to mid-July, with daily events including traditional dancing, music competitions, puppet shows, and displays of flowers, fashion, crafts, and more. It’s a wonderful celebration of Balinese culture.
July 2025
Penglipuran Village Festival – July 3 to 5, 2025
The Penglipuran Village Festival goes down every July for 3 days, celebrating the rich culture and history of this unique village. You get to fully immerse yourself in the Balinese way of living.
Over the festival weekend, there’s traditional dances, colourful processions, and ancient ceremonies to witness. The locals put on workshops too, teaching visitors all about their crafty skills like weaving and woodworking. You’ll see them playing those cool traditional instruments as well.
Lovina Festival – July 18 to 22, 2025
The Lovina Festival is all about celebrating the arts, culture and creative industries. It’s also a nod to the tourism revival happening in Buleleng Regency. This three-day shindig will showcase a vibrant mix of artistic performances, cultural displays and mouth-watering local cuisine that Buleleng is famous for.
Jatiluwih Festival – July 19 to 20, 2025
The Jatiluwih Festival is a celebration of Bali’s rich culture, held right in the heart of the island’s most stunning rice terraces. With nature taking centre stage, you can expect to see all sorts going on – from farmers showing off their agriculture skills to photographers exhibiting their best nature photography. There’ll even be painting competitions for the the art lovers!
Bali Kite Festival Sanur – July 26 to 27, 2025
The Bali Kite Festival in Sanur is a spectacle you can’t miss if you’re in the area. Every July, hundreds of the island’s top kite makers descend on the beach to showcase their massive creations and battle it out for the Governor’s Cup.
It’s a long-standing tradition in Bali, flying kites to give thanks for a good harvest. Villages across the island hold their own festivals during the dry season, usually near the rice paddies.
In recent years, it’s become a bit of a competition, with teams from each village aiming to build the biggest and most impressive kites around. The Sanur festival is where they bring their A-game, vying to be crowned the ultimate kite champions of Bali.
August 2025
Ubud Village Jazz Festival – August 1 to 2, 2025
Jazz lovers, this one is for you! The Ubud Village Jazz Festival, happening over two nights at the Sthala Ubud (a 5-star hotel, no less), will showcase over 100 top-notch jazz artists from Indonesia and beyond, serving up a tasty blend of music, culture, and good times.
Tanah Lot Arts and Culture Festival – August (Exact Dates TBC)
The Tanah Lot Arts and Culture Festival (dates to be confirmed) is a 3-day event at the iconic Tanah Lot temple. It’s a celebration with loads of entertainment like music and traditional dances, plus buzzing local markets showcasing all sorts of handmade crafts. And, of course, FOOD is a big part of the festivities, with stalls showcasing tasty local Tabanan cuisine – definitely one for the foodies!
Each day, you’ll see the Gebogan parade which is a sight to behold. Long lines of local women carry baskets piled high with fruits and snacks balanced on their heads, making offerings to the Gods.
September 2025
Waterbom Weekender – September 21 to 25, 2025
Bali’s biggest and baddest water park is throwing a two-day music fest. Imagine floating down the lazy river, grooving to live tunes, munching on some delicious BBQ, and raving to epic DJs.
But that’s not all! You can get free hair and face paint to really get into the festive mood, play lawn games and beer pong with your mates, and watch the staff show off their surf skills on the Flowrider in the Flowshow.
Bali Rockin Blues Festival – September 26, 2025
The Bali Rockin’ Blues Festival is an absolute must for any music lover visiting the island. This yearly bash blends the raw power of rock with the soulful grooves of the blues, showcasing both homegrown Indonesian talent and big-name international acts. But what really sets it apart is the wicked venues they host it at – from ancient Hindu temples to stunning seaside cliffs, you’re getting a fully immersive cultural experience alongside those sweet, sweet tunes.
October 2025
Siat Geni – October 6, 2025
The Siat Geni tradition in Tuban Village, Kuta, Bali, is all about keeping those pesky evil spirits at bay and maintaining balance in the universe. It’s a ritual where the local youths get stuck battling it out with torches made from dried coconut leaves and is performed during sacred days in the Balinese calendar. They also send out prayers for safety as they perform this.
Nusa Penida Festival – October 9 to 11, 2025
A lively festival in Nusa Penida celebrating their ancestors’ clever ways of looking after coastal regions. It keeps age-old wisdom alive while ensuring nature thrives and sparking creative talents to shine.
Bali Vegan Festival – October 26, 2025
This festival is all about celebrating the vegan lifestyle. You’ll find a wide array of plant-based cuisines to sink your teeth into, along with cooking workshops to pick up some nifty kitchen skills.
There will also be health seminars where you can learn about the awesome benefits of going vegan. It’s the perfect chance to treat your taste buds and get clued up on why ditching meat and dairy is where it’s at.
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival – October 29 to November 2, 2025
The Ubud Writers Festival is one of the biggest literary shindigs in Southeast Asia, where authors, artists, and bookworms can rub elbows and gab about books. It’s also a chance to catch the latest buzz in the literary world.
Some of the happenings at the fest include book-themed lunches, talks, panel discussions, book launches, film screenings, readings, and live music gigs.
November 2025
Pemuteran Bay Festival – November 6 to 8, 2025
The Pemuteran Bay Festival is an annual bash that goes down in Pemuteran Bay, Bali. The festival celebrates the stunning underwater scenery of Pemuteran Bay, famous for its pristine coral reefs, and the vibrant Balinese culture. It’s a chance to experience the best of both worlds – the natural beauty beneath the waves and the rich traditions of the island.
Makepung Lampit Festival – November 23, 2025
The Makepung Lampit Festival is more than just a tourist attraction in Jembrana – it’s about keeping traditional values alive and ensuring a future for buffalo and Bali cattle in the region. Unlike other makepung events, this one gets down and dirty, taking place right in the muddy rice fields.
December 2025
Pandawa Beach Festival – December (Exact Dates TBC)
The Pandawa Beach Festival is a yearly bash in Bali that goes down at the end of each year. It’s all about showcasing the island’s arts and culture with traditional dances, music, and rituals putting on a show. But it’s not just the old-school stuff – there are also bazaars, competitions, and modern music acts getting in on the action. It’s a lively celebration you won’t want to miss if you’re in Bali around that time.
Denpasar Festival – Decemeber 22 to 25, 2025
Bali’s capital goes all out for an epic three-day festival at the end of December. It’s an annual celebration packed with cultural dances and performances, games and competitions, and artwork displays. The festivities take place around the iconic Catur Muka Statue, where you’ll find colourful ceremonies and a tonne of food and drink stalls to fuel your fun. It’s a lively event that lets you experience the best of Balinese culture and hospitality.
New Year’s Eve – December 31, 2025
Bali is the spot to ring in the New Year, whether you’re looking to go all out at a swanky beach club, hit up a bumpin’ club night on a budget, celebrate with the fam, or keep things chill with a stunning view over dinner. Just keep in mind, the popular resort areas get really congested on NYE. Traffic turns into a total gridlock around midnight, so it will be difficult to find a cab. Your best bet is to stay within walking distance of wherever you’re partying.
Planning Your Balinese Adventure:
With this detailed calendar, you can plan your 2025 trip to perfectly align with the events that most resonate with you. Remember to check specific dates closer to the time, as some events are subject to change. Booking accommodations and transportation well in advance is highly recommended, especially for popular events and during peak seasons. We hope you enjoy Bali this year!