New openings (hotels, restaurants, beach clubs), festivals, and local culture news.
On September 20, 2026, hundreds of runners participated in the Sudaji Peace Trail Fun Run in Sudaji Village, Sawan District, Buleleng Regency, Bali. The event combined trail running through rice paddies with organic farming experiences and a local small business market, aiming to promote community-based, sustainable tourism.
Read more βOn September 20, 2026, the 63rd International Association of Women Police (IAWP) conference opened in Nusa Dua, Bali, gathering over 500 delegates from 43 countries. Indonesia's National Police Chief presided over the opening ceremony, with the event running through September 24. Direct impact on tourists and residents is expected to be minimal.
Read more βA traditional salt farmer in Belatung Village, Klungkung, Bali, is producing 8 kg of organic sea salt per day thanks to faster drying in the dry season. The salt is popular with hotels and foreign tourists, especially Japanese visitors.
Read more βJapanese chef Ryoichi Kano lives in southern Bali with his wife and 34 rescued dogs. The story highlights Bali's serious stray dog problem, driven by low pet ownership awareness and a cycle of abandonment.
Read more βICON BEACH FESTIVAL 2026 was held at ICON BALI's beachfront on September 19-20, 2026, featuring a free K-pop concert by PENTAGON's Jung Wooseok, a fashion show, and a bazaar with 30 vendors, drawing thousands of visitors. The event also aimed to promote local designers and Bali's creative industry.
Read more βThe fourth annual ARMA Fest opened at the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Ubud, featuring painting exhibitions, traditional dance, and music performances. The festival aims to bridge senior and young artists while supporting local small businesses, promoting Bali's cultural heritage as a living tradition.
Read more βOn September 19, the first day of Japan's Silver Week holiday, Chubu Centrair Airport's international departure lobby was crowded with travelers heading abroad, including families bound for Bali as well as Shanghai. Such holiday periods typically bring a seasonal increase in Japanese tourist demand for Bali.
Read more βIn the Black Lava area on the western slope of Mount Batur in Kintamani, Bangli regency, Bali, local communities held a traditional ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the 1926 volcanic eruption. Thousands gathered in customary groups carrying their own banners, following an earlier purification ritual for a marker symbolizing the old Batur village that existed before the eruption forced relocation. This is a cultural commemoration event, not related to any current volcanic activity.
Read more βIndonesian carrier TransNusa will launch daily direct flights between Melbourne and Bali (Denpasar) starting October 19, 2026, introducing its first-ever Premium Plus service class. Ticket sales begin September 15, 2026.
Read more βA French tourist couple visiting Kusamba village in Klungkung, Bali, were captivated by the traditional salt-making process using coconut trunk troughs and bought some to bring home. While the salt holds an official Geographical Indication certification, local farmers face declining demand for this labor-intensive variety.
Read more βTribe Bali Legian, a new Accor-brand hotel, opened in August 2026 at the former Ibis Styles Legian location in Bali. The 113-room property is offering introductory rates from around IDR 1.3 million per night through the end of October 2026.
Read more βDenpasar's Culture Office has produced a 50-minute docudrama titled 'Mati Tan Tumut Pejah,' depicting the 1906 Puputan Badung resistance against Dutch colonialism. The film will premiere on September 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Lapangan I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung in Denpasar as part of the 120th anniversary commemoration.
Read more βDenpasar's city government plans to sustainably develop sports-based tourism events, with Deputy Mayor I Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa recently receiving a special award at the Bali Tourism Award 2026. The Bali Friendship Hockey Festival, held in September with teams from Indonesia, Singapore and Australia, exemplifies this trend, as Bali's tourist arrivals reached about 4.6 million by August 2026.
Read more βThe Badung Regency government in Bali is working with tourism stakeholders and academics to transform the sector toward quality, sustainable tourism. Key measures include infrastructure development in North Badung, greater use of traditional Balinese security guards (pecalang), and parking reorganization in Kuta.
Read more βAXEAN Festival, a Southeast Asian music showcase, returned to Jimbaran Hub in Bali for its third consecutive year, drawing over 4,000 attendees across three days. The edition featured Indonesian headliners and marked the first Asian partnership for Seattle-based music platform KEXP.
Read more βHARRIS Hotel & Residences Sunset Road Bali and Nikhila Hotel Seminyak Bali received top honors at the Bali Tourism Awards 2026, held on 14 September 2026 at The Meru Sanur. The awards recognized the properties' hospitality quality, MICE facilities, and boutique guest experience in their respective areas.
Read more βIndonesia's Tourism Ministry reports that 58.34% of foreign tourists who visited the country in 2025 engaged in culinary or gastronomy-related activities. The ministry will hold the 'Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026' program in Solo and Yogyakarta from late September to early October, aiming to boost recognition of local food culture, including regional cuisines relevant to travelers across Indonesia, including Bali.
Read more βA Japanese action film, 'Unso Dragon - Powered Human Battle Courier,' won seven awards including Best Picture at the Bali Cultural Exchange Film Festival held on September 12 in Bali, competing against 17 entries. The event also included screenings at local schools and a commemorative tree planting, highlighting cultural exchange between Japan and Indonesia.
Read more βPreferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest independent hotel brand, has added four luxury properties in Baliβlocated in Canggu, Uluwatu, Ubud, and Sanurβto its global portfolio. This brings the total number of member hotels in Indonesia to five, and guests can now access the free I Prefer loyalty rewards program at these properties.
Read more βThe Tirta Gangga Art Festival 2026 has opened at the Tirta Gangga water palace in East Bali's Karangasem regency, marking the site's 78th anniversary. The event features traditional dance competitions, cultural parades, and local business stalls, bringing together artists and communities from diverse backgrounds.
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