Festivals & events

Festivals and events that shape a trip — celebrations, closures, peak prices and when to book ahead.

Galungan & Kuningan

Celebration
Jan–Dec · approximate dates

Bali's most important festival, streets lined with towering penjor bamboo poles. Recurs on the 210-day Balinese calendar.

Recurs every 210 days on the Balinese Pawukon calendar: Galungan always falls on a Wednesday and Kuningan ten days later.
Next date: 13–23 Jan 2027

Chinese New Year (Imlek)

Celebration
Jan–Feb · approximate dates

Lively in Jakarta's Glodok and especially Singkawang (Borneo). Lunar dates, late Jan–Feb.

First day of the Chinese lunar year: the second new moon after the winter solstice, always between 21 January and 20 February.
Next date: 6–7 Feb 2027

Nyepi (Bali Day of Silence)

Closures
Mar · approximate dates

Bali shuts down completely for 24h — no flights, no going out, even the airport closes. Lunar date, usually March.

New year of the Saka calendar: the day after the new moon of the 9th Balinese month (Tilem Kesanga), in March.

Idul Fitri (Lebaran)

Book ahead
Mar–Apr · approximate dates

End of Ramadan and the huge 'mudik' homecoming: transport booked out and closures nationwide. Moves ~11 days earlier yearly.

First day of Shawwal, when the crescent moon is sighted at the end of Ramadan. The Islamic calendar is purely lunar: it moves about 11 days earlier each year.

Waisak at Borobudur

Celebration
May · approximate dates

Buddhist Vesak: monks and lantern releases at Borobudur temple. Lunar date, usually May.

Full moon of the month of Vesak, usually in May; in years with an extra lunar month it can move to late April or June.