Vice Tourism Minister Eyes Over 1.6 Million Visitors for Bali Festival

RRI.CO.ID, Denpasar – Tourism Ministry expressed its optimism that the 2026 Bali Arts Festival (PKB) will attract more than 1.6 million visitors amid strong interest in Bali’s cultural attractions and the overlap with school holidays and the international summer vacation season.

“Art and cultural performances are among the attractions that draw tourists. Moreover, the event coincides with school holidays and the summer vacation season. Hopefully, the target of 1.6 million visitors can be achieved, or even exceeded,” Indonesia's Vice Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, said while attending the opening of the 2026 Bali Arts Festival at the Bali People’s Struggle Monument, Niti Mandala, Denpasar, Saturday, June 13, 2026.

In a written statement from the Ministry of Tourism received in Jakarta on Sunday, the Minister said that art and cultural performances are among the key attractions that help boost tourist arrivals to a destination.

The 2026 Bali Arts Festival, which runs from June 13 to July 11, once again affirms its status as Bali’s largest and oldest annual cultural event since it was first held in 1979.

This year marks the festival’s 48th edition and the sixth consecutive year that it has been included in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN), the Ministry of Tourism’s flagship program showcasing some of Indonesia’s best events.

Ni Luh praised the Bali Provincial Government for consistently organizing the festival and preserving cultural heritage as a pillar of regional development.

“This year marks the 48th edition of the Bali Arts Festival and the sixth time it has been included in the Karisma Event Nusantara. This reflects Bali’s strong commitment to preserving and developing its cultural heritage as a driver of regional development,” she said.

The 2026 Bali Arts Festival was officially opened by Bali Governor, I Wayan Koster with the striking of the traditional kulkul. Carrying the theme “Atma Kerthi: Jiwa Sidha Parisudha” or “Honoring the Perfect Soul,” the cultural event presents a variety of artistic works that reflect efforts to maintain balance between the sacred, social, and ecological dimensions of Balinese life.

As part of the opening series, Ni Luh Puspa also watched the Peed Aya cultural parade, which showcased the artistic, cultural, natural, economic, and tourism potential of regencies and cities across Bali.

Enthusiasm for the 2026 Bali Arts Festival has also come from international visitors. Julia, a tourist from Germany who attended the cultural parade, said she was impressed by the way Balinese people preserve and integrate culture into their daily lives.