20th edition of Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

The 20th edition of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF), Southeast Asia's flagship literary festival, will take place in Bali, Indonesia from 18 to 22 October 2023.

Since its inception, the festival has served as an essential forum for writers and readers to share their stories and engage in meaningful discussions. To mark this important milestone, the festival has chosen the theme "Atita, Wartamana, Anagata: The Past, the Present, and the Future".

The theme is inspired by the Balinese concept of “Tri Semaya”, which is the philosophical view of time as non-linear, circular and collective. The theme will manifest in a series of programmes that serve as a platform for dialogue and exchange. It will cover personal and collective history, spiritual rejuvenation, and the social, environmental, economic, and political contexts of the contemporary world.

The UWRF will showcase emerging and established writers, artists, intellectuals, cultural scholars, and speakers who will share their vision of history, current affairs, and the future of our world. The festival will also pay tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to building and nurturing the literary landscape, supporting Indonesian and global literature, and promoting literacy.

To commemorate its 20th anniversary, UWRF will present a special bilingual Anniversary Anthology featuring selected works from emerging writers between 2008 and 2022.

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival programme