A Celebration of Global Storytelling
The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) is set to return from October 29 to November 2, 2025, with a stellar lineup of Indonesian and international storytellers. The festival's theme, "Aham Brahmasmi – I Am the Universe," invites participants to explore the interconnectedness of human experience and the universe. With less than a month to go, anticipation is building for the 22nd Festival, promising to be a transformative experience for all participants.
A Bridge Between Cultures
UWRF continues to solidify its reputation as one of Southeast Asia's premier literary events, featuring over 200 diverse and thought-provoking programs. Award-winning authors, leading journalists, and political commentators will take part in powerful sessions designed to foster dialogue that transcends borders, inspires change, and strengthens the global literary community.
The Power of Storytelling
Ratih Kumala, writer and screenwriter, spoke at the press conference held at Wisma Habibie & Ainun about the festival's theme and her latest novel, Koloni. "As I understand it, UWRF was born out of a major problem, the Bali bombing, and more than 20 years later the challenge we face today is the exploitation and exploration of nature, with the Festival serving as a bridge and flexible space to respond to these issues." Kumala's novel Koloni draws an analogy to human socio-political conditions through the power struggle of 200 ants in a colony, which she believes is highly relevant to today's social and political situation.
A Diverse Lineup of Speakers
The festival will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, including the winners of the 2025 International Booker Prize: Banu Mushtaq and Jenny Erpenbeck. They will join a panel inspired by Virginia Woolf's idea of women carving their own rooms to write, reflecting on what women today choose to write and craft behind prize-winning works. Other notable speakers include Egyptian-Canadian novelist Omar El Akkad, Japanese journalist and #MeToo advocate Shiori Itō, and Lebanese-Australian journalist Antoinette Lattouf.
Celebrating Indonesian Literature
The festival is honored to welcome novelist and journalist Leila S. Chudori, one of the most celebrated Indonesian writers, together with Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2025 winner Sasti Gotama and rising literary talents such as Ray Shabir and Hamzah Muhammad. These writers will explore the new wave of poets reshaping form, language, and media.
A Platform for Emerging Writers
The festival will also feature a program for emerging writers, with 10 finalists selected for the 2025 Emerging Writers Program. The program is supported by Manajemen Talenta Nasional (MTN) for Arts & Culture, a national priority program of the Ministry of Culture. The finalists will be showcased in the MTN Presentation in the Emerging Writers segment, as well as the MTN Market, featuring two Booker Prize winners, Banu Mushtaq and Jenny Erpenbeck.
A Lifetime Achievement Award
The festival is also honored to present the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Taufiq Ismail, the Indonesian poet and writer, for his extraordinary contribution to Indonesian literature. Taufiq's poetry not only captures the beauty of nature with unique sensitivity but also addresses urgent social and political issues.
A Celebration of Indonesian Culture
The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is a celebration of Indonesian culture and literature, bringing together writers, thinkers, and performers from around the world. The festival provides a platform for global storytelling, fostering dialogue and inspiring change. As Janet DeNeefe, Festival Founder and Director, said, "We shine the spotlight on this enormous yet little-known nation's writers, artists, thinkers, and performers, in the hope that the world will one day appreciate their talent just as we do.
A Legacy of Love and Knowledge
The festival's venue partner, Wisma Habibie & Ainun, is a living legacy of love, knowledge, and nationhood. Once home to President B.J. Habibie and First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie, WHA now serves as a space to preserve their vision, celebrate Indonesia's journey in science and democracy, and inspire future generations with the enduring values of intellect, compassion, and innovation.
