Ubud Village Jazz Festival 2026 Opens with Debut Upcycled Art Exhibition
The 13th Ubud Village Jazz Festival (UVJF) 2026 opened at STHALA Ubud Village hotel in Bali, running August 7-8 with jazz performances across multiple stages. This year marks the festival's first art exhibition, featuring upcycled and recycled material artworks addressing Bali's overtourism and environmental issues.
The 13th Ubud Village Jazz Festival (UVJF) 2026 officially opened at STHALA Ubud Village hotel in Bali, kicking off two days of jazz performances. The brief opening ceremony took place at Giri Stage from 6:05-6:20pm local time on August 7, followed immediately by an energetic performance from Salamander Big Band, an independent jazz orchestra from Bandung featuring around 27 musicians.
The opening night featured a lineup of performers including Rason Trio, Imelda Rosalin Quintet, LaDju, Simone Prattico Java Collective, Dattie Do Duo, Straight & Stretch, and Michael Ananda Trio, rotating across Giri Stage and Subak Stage until midnight.
The festival takes place across three interconnected stage areas: Giri Stage, the riverside Subak Stage, and Community Stage, where vinyl DJ sets blend with jazz influences. UVJF Committee representative Heru Djatmiko emphasized the festival was "not created to chase money, but purely out of love for jazz."
A new addition this year is the festival's first official art exhibition, "Second Life: An Exhibition of Found Materials & Upcycled Art," curated by the Kala Patha collective. Eight contemporary artists transform discarded materials, recycled items, and industrial waste into new works. Outside the venue, visitors encounter propaganda-style posters addressing Bali's issues including overtourism, environmental concerns, waste, and shrinking land, alongside an installation made from used flip-flops depicting a woman carrying stones from a Balinese river. Inside, the atmosphere shifts to become more vibrant and colorful, inspiring the exhibition's theme name, "Island of Hope."
The "Second Life" exhibition is free to view daily from 1-3pm during the festival (August 7-8) at the STHALA area; after 3pm, access requires a valid UVJF 2026 ticket.
Another sustainability initiative includes solar-powered charging stations set up in partnership with InfiSolar at the Community Stage booth area, allowing attendees to recharge devices throughout the festival.
The festival continues through Saturday, August 8, with performances including Japan's H ZETTRIO, Jadi Peperzak Quartet, and a closing set by Salamander Big Band at Giri Stage.
Things to Consider
Since the festival runs through August 8, check ticket purchasing options and venue access in advance. The free "Second Life" art exhibition is only open without a festival ticket from 1-3pm daily, so plan your visit accordingly if you want to see it without purchasing admission. After 3pm, a valid UVJF ticket is required. Given expected crowds in central Ubud, confirm transportation and parking options near the venue beforehand.
Source: Aktual - Cerdas - Terpercaya!