Indonesia’s biggest food festival will be returning to Bali this May 2026. The iconic Ubud Food Festival is set to welcome an eclectic mix of food enthusiasts from around the archipelago and around the world. Ubud Food Festival will be held from 28th to 31st May 2026.
Here at The Bali Sun, we are big fans of Ubud Food Festival. The event, founded by the same team behind Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, is one of the highlights of the cultural calendar in Bali.
Easily Southeast Asia’s most famous culinary festivals, the event welcomes chefs, culinary legends, artisans, and ecological leaders from around the world to the heart of Ubud, to dive deep into all things, taste, sustainability, and culture.
Each year, the festival is oriented around a specific theme, and the 2026 event is no exception. The theme this May is “Farmers: Guardians of Land and Sea.” The theme highlights the role of the hands that provide us with food and sustenance. From the fertile volcanic ridgelines to salt-farmed coasts, the 2026 edition of Ubud Food Festival will shine a light on the farmers, fishermen, and producers who breathe life into Indonesia’s extraordinary culinary story.
Speaking to reporters, Ubud Food Festival Founder and Director Janet DeNeefe explained, “We put farmers at the center. They are not just suppliers. They are guardians of biodiversity, bearers of knowledge, and nurturers of culture. Every dish begins with their work and care for the land and sea.”
She added, “We’re bringing together chefs, farmers, producers, and thinkers to create more than just a festival. It’s a celebration of the entire food ecosystem. With the theme ‘Farmers: Guardians of the Land and Sea,’ we’re also reminding ourselves of our shared responsibility to safeguard food, traditions, and the future of culinary traditions in Indonesia and around the world.”
Each year, DeNeefe travels extensively around Indonesia in search of the best local dishes, ingredients, and culinary culture, heritage, and talent that the world should know more about. She will be leading a culinary tour of West Sumatra in June, open for all with an interest in food, culture, and sustainability.
Ubud Food Festival has earned its international acclaim for its ability to promote Indonesian cuisine to the world, while also highlighting international culinary talent and ensuring that the real cultural stories that sit behind each bite are celebrated to the full.
The Ubud Food Festival Feast Manifesto goes a long way in ensuring that the event and its comprehensive programming are all in alignment. The manifesto explains, “New is exciting. Try it all. Food you don’t like is food you might not have discovered properly yet. Perceptions are there to be broken.”
Food knows no borders: Every bite has been shaped by the people who have come to our city, bringing their own unique flavours. Cherish every bite: Eating is ephemeral. It is an act of quick disappearance. Savour every mouthful and remember it always. Honour the ingredient: Respect the culture that produced it, the recipe that elevated it, and the chef who worked tirelessly.”
Adding “It’s about who you eat it with: Friends who join your fully planned festival or queue for the dish you’re up for with you are friends for life.” And “Never regret dessert: Or seconds. Or dessert. Or anything else you decide to try. Own every choice you make.”
The full program and ticket details for Ubud Food Festival 2026 will be revealed soon, but the names already announced are enough to make the mouth water.
Top international names include Bangkok-based Chef Prin Polsuk of the award-winning Samrub Samrub Thai restaurant, as well as Spanish-born Chef Frank Camorra, owner of the iconic MoVida restaurant in Melbourne, beloved as the pioneer of modern Spanish tapas in Australia.
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