Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

What Ubud Writers & Readers Festival does

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is a nonprofit literary and cultural festival founded in 2004 in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, organized by Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati under founder and director Janet DeNeefe. The annual four-day event in its 23rd edition (21-25 October 2026) convenes 150+ writers, thinkers, and performers for 100+ sessions including panel discussions, book launches, workshops, and cultural performances, drawing 18,000+ attendees with a 20,000+ newsletter subscriber base. The festival monetizes through a diversified revenue stack: tiered festival passes (IDR 350K for Indonesian university students to IDR 6.5M for international 4-Day Early Bird), annual premium memberships (Friends Circle USD 350 and Patron Circle USD 1,050), paid writing retreats (USD 195-1,700), a four-tier Emerging Writers Patron Programme (USD 650-15,000), corporate sponsorship packages (platinum/silver/bronze), and government/embassy support.

The underlying operation is event-driven rather than technology-driven, with no proprietary software platform, API, or AI/ML capabilities. Core infrastructure rests on hospitality partnerships (founder-owned Casa Luna and Indus Restaurant, plus Plataran Ubud, Honeymoon Guest House, Bumi Kinar as platinum partners), 60+ media partnerships, and a volunteer programme of 100+ per festival. Since 2008, the Emerging Writers Programme has institutionalized a pipeline for Indonesian writers through mentorship, editorial development, English translation, and bilingual anthology publication, with Penguin Southeast Asia partnership extending international publishing reach. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the official ticketing platform (ubudwritersfestival.com) and on-site box office at Jalan Raya Sanggingan, Ubud, complemented by bank transfer options in AUD/USD/IDR for international patrons and a Myriad Australia channel for tax-deductible Australian donations.

Name

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

Legal name

Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati

Website

https://ubudwritersfestival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is a nonprofit literary festival founded in 2004 in Bali, convening 150+ writers and 18,000+ attendees annually across a four-day programme of panels, workshops, and cultural events, funded by ticket sales, sponsorships, patron contributions, and writing retreats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary and Cultural Festival Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK), Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI), Writing, Journalism & Publishing Camps (EDAMALAM)

Keywords

• Literary festival events
• Writing workshops retreats
• Cultural festival programming
• Author panel discussions
• Book launch programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ubud

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival Tickets: Revenue from selling festival passes including 4-Day passes, 1-Day passes, concession tickets, and special event tickets. Free entry for Indonesian high school students.
2. Emerging Writers Patron Programme: Patronage contributions supporting emerging Indonesian writers through the anthology program. Tiers range from Supporting Patron (USD 650) to Founding Patron (USD 15,000).
3. Writing Retreats: Revenue from writing intensive programs led by acclaimed authors. Xu Xi retreat priced at USD 195-600; Peter Godwin retreat at USD 1,300-1,700.
4. Friends Circle and Patron Circle Memberships: Premium membership tiers offering enhanced festival experience. Friends Circle at USD 350; Patron Circle at USD 1,050.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnership packages for event sponsors, workshop sponsors, and media partners. Includes digital and in-person promotional opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival operates an annual four-day literary and cultural festival in Ubud, Bali, featuring 100+ sessions (author talks, panel discussions, book launches, workshops, spoken word, film screenings, and cultural performances) plus ancillary paid offerings including intensive author-led writing retreats, an Emerging Writers Programme for Indonesian writers culminating in a bilingual anthology, and premium Patron Circle and Friends Circle memberships. Indonesian high school students receive free festival access; broader ticket revenue, corporate sponsorships, and patron donations fund operations.

Product overview

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is a literary and cultural festival held annually in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. The 2026 Festival marks its 23rd edition and operates as a multi-product portfolio combining the core four-day festival event with premium patron experiences (Friends Circle, Patron Circle), intensive writing retreats (with Xu Xi and Peter Godwin), the Emerging Writers Programme for Indonesian writers, and special ticketed events including the Opening Gala. The festival's main product is the four-day festival pass providing access to 100+ sessions, while add-on experiences like writing retreats and patron circles offer enhanced engagement. Supporting infrastructure includes a volunteer programme, school programme for student access, and a book launch platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Annual Event Annual four-day literary and cultural festival held in Ubud, Bali, featuring author talks, panel discussions, book launches, workshops, spoken word performances, film screenings, live music, and cultural performances for literary enthusiasts and cultural travelers.
• Writing Retreat with Xu Xi Two-day intensive writing retreat led by acclaimed Hong Kong author Xu Xi, focusing on crafting Asian narratives that resonate universally, with structured critique, in-class exercises, and revision sessions for writers seeking to develop cross-cultural storytelling.
• Retreat with Peter Godwin Three-day memoir writing intensive led by award-winning author Peter Godwin for writers working on memoir, autobiographical fiction, or narrative nonfiction, providing advanced instruction and editorial guidance.
• Emerging Writers Programme Annual programme discovering Indonesia's emerging literary voices through anthology publication, professional mentoring, editorial development, and English translation, selecting 10 writers yearly to publish bilingual works launched at the festival in partnership with Penguin Southeast Asia.
• Emerging Writers Patron Programme Annual recurring patronage programme allowing individuals and institutions to fund emerging Indonesian writers' participation through four tiered contribution levels ranging from Supporting Patron (USD 650) to Founding Patron (USD 15,000), with corresponding festival access and recognition benefits.
• Festival Opening Gala and Dinner Ticketed opening ceremony held at Puri Agung Ubud palace featuring Balinese dancers, gamelan music, and moonlit frangipani trees, followed by a curated dinner at Casa Luna attended by Booker winners and literary icons.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,000+ annual attendance across 23 years of operation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, platinum, silver, bronze, media and supporting.

• Kementerian Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia (Ministry of Culture Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing institutional support and endorsement for the festival as Indonesia's premier literary event.
• Pusat Perbukuan; Badan Standar, Kurikulum, dan Asesmen Pendidikan; Kementerian Pendidikan Dasar dan MenengahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body supporting educational initiatives and book programs under the Ministry of Education.
• Honeymoon Guest HouseplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner providing accommodation support. Also provides Honeymoon Library venue for writing retreats.
• Plataran Ubud Hotel & SpaplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner hospitality provider offering luxury accommodation for festival guests and writers.
• Plataran Heritage BorobudurplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner hospitality property extending festival's presence beyond Bali.
• Bumi KinarplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner hospitality provider in Ubud area.
• Casa LunaplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwned by festival founder Janet DeNeefe. Provides retreat venues, curated meals for writers' retreats, and gala dinners. Platinum hospitality partner.
• Indus RestaurantplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwned by festival founder Janet DeNeefe. Hosts Indus Supper Club events, Writers Bar, and patron gatherings. Platinum hospitality partner.
• Planet WheelersilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver partner through Planet Wheeler Foundation supporting literary initiatives.
• MTN Seni BudayasilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver partner supporting arts and cultural programs.
• The Pita MahasilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver partner hospitality provider in Ubud.
• Soulshine BalisilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver partner wellness and hospitality provider.
• Embassy of Ireland, JakartabronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner through embassy cultural programming.
• Indian Embassy JakartabronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner supporting cultural exchange through embassy programming.
• Australian Embassy JakartabronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner through embassy cultural initiatives.
• Embassy of Colombia in IndonesiabronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner supporting literary and cultural exchange.
• Samsara UbudbronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner hospitality provider.
• BiznetbronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner providing network/infrastructure support.
• BliblibronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner e-commerce platform.
• Di Sini Di Sana by Rachman & SonsbronzeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze partner brand.
• NOW! JakartamediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing editorial coverage and promotional visibility.
• NOW! BalimediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing editorial coverage in Bali.
• Makna TalksmediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for literary content and discussions.
• Seasia NewsmediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Southeast Asian news coverage.
• Whiteboard JournalmediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for cultural and creative content.
• IDN TimesmediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Indonesian digital media partner providing wide reach to Indonesian audiences.
• MagdalenemediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Indonesian women's and cultural content.
• Omong-OmongmediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for literary discussions and content.
• Instant Karma MagazinemediaGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for cultural and lifestyle content.
• Mongrel International Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for Xu Xi writing retreat programme, bringing structured critique and international expertise to the retreat.
• Myriad AustraliasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian donation platform allowing tax-deductible contributions to the festival from Australian donors.
• Penguin Southeast AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to co-publish Stories from the Islands anthology, providing international publishing reach for Indonesian writers.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hay Festival: Global literary festival series held in Hay-on-Wye and multiple international locations. Directly comparable multi-day literary programming with paid passes, patron programmes, and international speaker rosters.
• Singapore Writers Festival: Annual multi-day literary festival in Singapore run by Arts House Limited. Comparable Southeast Asian literary festival with ticketed passes, multilingual programming, and international authors.
• Bath Literature Festival: One of the UK's oldest literary festivals, held in Bath. Comparable in ticketed pass structure, international author rosters, and writing workshop programming.
• Festivaletteratura: Italy's premier literary festival held annually in Mantua. Comparable as an internationally recognized literary festival with ticketed programming and writing events.
• Melbourne Writers Festival: Major Australian literary festival held annually in Melbourne. Comparable in audience and programming, and meaningful given Janet DeNeefe's Melbourne origins and the festival's Australian patron base.
• Auckland Writers Festival: New Zealand's premier literary festival, held biennially in Auckland. Comparable in international author programming and ticketed festival pass structure.
• Jaipur Literature Festival: Asia's largest free literary festival, held annually in Jaipur, India. Closest regional comparable to UWRF in scale, audience draw, and South Asian literary positioning.
• Edinburgh International Book Festival: The world's largest publicly funded literary festival, held annually in Edinburgh. Directly comparable to UWRF as a multi-day literary festival with international author programming, ticketed passes, and educational outreach.
• Brooklyn Book Festival: Major US literary festival held annually in Brooklyn, New York. Comparable international author programming and community festival positioning.

Regional players

• Ubud Food Festival: Sister festival run by the same founder (Janet DeNeefe) in Ubud, Bali. Operationally and organizationally integrated with UWRF and useful as a comparable for the festival's Indonesian event-organizing economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ubudwritersfest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ubudwritersfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/ubudwritersfest
• Instagraminstagram.com/ubudwritersfest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ubud Writers & Readers Festival