For the next four vibrant days in the heart of Bali, the Ubud Food Festival will once again transform Ubud into a living celebration of food, culture, and community. Returning for its 11th edition under the theme “Farmers: Guardians of Land and Sea,” the 2026 festival is set to become more than a culinary gathering. It will serve as a tribute to the people behind every ingredient, from rice growers and fishermen to chefs, storytellers, and artisans preserving Indonesia’s rich gastronomic identity.
Running from 28 to 31 May 2026 at Taman Kuliner Ubud, the festival is expected to welcome thousands of visitors from across Indonesia and beyond until this coming Sunday. Cooking demonstrations, food talks, masterclasses, chef collaborations, and an expanded open-air food market will create an atmosphere that blends celebration with reflection. Beneath the aroma of spices and grilled seafood lies a deeper message: the future of food depends on the people who protect the land and sea today.
A Festival Rooted in Farmers and Tradition
This year’s festival places farmers at the center of the conversation. Founder and Director Janet DeNeefe describes the declining number of farmers in Bali as one of the island’s most urgent challenges. “Without them, we would have nothing to eat,” she says during the festival’s opening press conference. Her words are expected to resonate throughout the programme, which highlights regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, and the preservation of local food traditions.
The festival’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Indonesian gastronomy advocate Helianti Hilman, whose work through Javara has helped bring indigenous Indonesian ingredients and traditional food knowledge to international audiences. Hilman reminds audiences that food carries more than flavor. “Food has always been more than nourishment. It carries memory, identity, and the wisdom of generations,” she says.
Her recognition reflects the broader mission of the festival itself. Indonesia is home to more than 1,300 ethnic groups and one of the world’s richest biodiversities, creating enormous culinary potential. Hilman notes that if Indonesia continues investing in its farmers and food culture, the country could become one of the world’s leading gastronomic destinations.
Culinary Stars Meet Local Wisdom
While the festival honors tradition, it also embraces innovation and global collaboration. One of the headline guests this year is Australian pastry chef Kate Reid, founder of Melbourne’s internationally acclaimed Lune Croissanterie. Reid, a former Formula 1 aerodynamicist turned baker, will participate in intimate discussions and join the judging panel for the festival’s “Best Croissant in Bali” competition.
Elsewhere, Michelin-starred Thai chef Joe Napol emphasizes the vital role chefs play in supporting local producers. “Farmers are always the foundation of great cuisine,” he says. “My role as a chef is to showcase what farmers and local fishermen produce while maintaining the value of their work.”
The programme also celebrates Indonesia’s regional diversity. Chef Glenn Erari will introduce dishes from eastern Indonesia, while TikTok culinary creator Venithya Calista and MasterChef Indonesia winner Jesselyn Lauwreen will bring Indonesia’s beloved lalap culture to life through live demonstrations. These moments are expected to blend entertainment with education, making Indonesian cuisine more accessible to younger audiences.
More Than a Food Festival
The Ubud Food Festival continues evolving into far more than a culinary event. In 2025, the festival attracted more than 18,000 attendees and around 160 industry leaders, making it the strongest edition in its history. This year’s programme expands further with over 70 food market tenants operating across all four days of the festival.
This year will also highlight the growing connection between food, sustainability, and digital storytelling. Through a partnership with TikTok’s social impact initiative “The Main Ingredient,” creators and ecopreneurs will explore how online communities influence eating habits, food awareness, and sustainability conversations. Sessions will discuss everything from healthier eating to responsible food consumption, showing how digital platforms can shape modern culinary culture.
Beyond the cooking stages, the festival will embrace music, poetry, and performance art. The R.A.P. Party, founded by award-winning poet Inua Ellams, will blur the lines between spoken word, live music, and social gathering. It demonstrates how food culture remains deeply intertwined with storytelling and human connection.
Last Year’s Festival Raised the Bar
The success of the 2025 Ubud Food Festival lays the groundwork for this year’s ambitious programme. Last year’s edition broke attendance records and reinforced Ubud’s reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting culinary destinations. Visitors praised the festival’s balance between high-profile chefs and grassroots food traditions, while local vendors benefited from the festival’s growing international visibility.
Media outlets and visitors alike described the event as a unique meeting point between tradition and innovation. The free open-air market, featuring more than 75 food artisans and countless Indonesian street food offerings, became one of the festival’s strongest attractions. That momentum now carries naturally into 2026, where the festival expands its vision while remaining rooted in community values.
A Shared Table for the Days Ahead
What makes the Ubud Food Festival stand apart is not simply the quality of its food, but the conversations it creates. Across the next four days, chefs, farmers, creators, and audiences will gather around a shared belief that food is inseparable from culture, sustainability, and identity.
As Bali continues balancing tourism growth with environmental and cultural preservation, the festival serves as both celebration and reminder. It highlights the importance of protecting local ingredients, supporting farmers, and ensuring younger generations remain connected to the land.
In many ways, Ubud Food Festival 2026 is not only about what appears on the plate. It is about the people behind every harvest, every recipe, and every tradition passed down through generations. And in a rapidly changing world, that message may matter more than ever.
