Thousands Flock to Bali Arts Parade as Culture Drives Tourism Appeal
- 13 Jun 2026 19:11 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Large crowds of domestic and international visitors gathered for the opening parade (Peed Aya) of the 48th Bali Arts Festival (PKB) in Denpasar, Bali.
- International visitors highlighted Balinese traditions, performances, and cultural preservation as key reasons for visiting Bali.
RRI.CO.ID, Denpasar - A bursting crowd of local and international visitors packed Peed Aya, the opening parade of the 48th Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali or PKB). The massive turnout transformed the event into a vivid showcase of why Balinese culture remains the island’s strongest tourism magnet.
Among the spectators was Judith, a 37-year-old tourist from Austria, who said she traveled from Mengwi, Badung to secure a good viewing spot.
“It’s very good that Bali has all these traditions; I hope the cultural festivals are preserved because they are the main tourism attraction, in my opinion,” Judith said on Saturday, June 13, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
She added that, despite the heat, the costumes, music and performances were very spectacular and very, very special.
Domestic visitors also made the most of the long holiday to attend the festival. Rita Rahmawati, 32, from East Nusa Tenggara, said she brought her family to Bali specifically because of PKB.
“I knew the PKB would be held during this long holiday, so I purposely brought my children to Bali from the start of the school break,” Rita said.
The family plans to continue watching festival programs at the Cultural Park Art Center during their weeklong stay.
PKB 2026 was officially opened by Bali Governor, Wayan Koster, and attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, and Deputy Minister for Population and Family Planning, Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka.
Thousands had gathered in front of the Bajra Sandhi Monument from around 2 p.m., greeted by a traditional menepak kulkul (Striking the kulkul, a traditional Balinese bamboo slit drum) procession and a collaborative performance by Komunitas Seni Usadhi Langu and the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Bali.
Head of Bali’s Culture Agency, Ida Bagus Alit Suryana, said the opening parade featured 10 representative teams from regencies and cities across Bali and ISI Bali. A total of 3,430 artists participated, presenting works aligned with this year’s theme, Atma Kerthi: Jiwa Siddha Parishudha, a call for spiritual purification and reinforced self-awareness as foundations for a harmonious life.
The agency head explained that the theme invites the community to strengthen ancestral Balinese values such as gotong royong (mutual cooperation), mutual respect, and maintaining balance between humans, the divine, and the environment.
“Through this theme, PKB 2026 is expected not only to be a stage for art and culture, but also a space to reinforce Balinese cultural identity and instill noble values in the younger generation,” he said.
The lively opening illustrated how cultural preservation, community participation, and tourism intersect on Bali. This intersection draws visitors who seek both a visual spectacle and a deeper connection to island traditions. ***
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