On 23 to 27 October 2024, the highly-anticipated Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) will welcome participants into what will be a star-studded lineup with more than a hundred exciting programs. As always, this international literary festival brings it signature roundup of thought-provoking discussions, author panels, curated dining programmes, masterclasses, music, film and epic poetry slams to Bali’s cultural capital.
So who’s coming to town this October? Bookworms will be excited by the international speaker lineup which features the award-winning Indian author and prominent global thinker, Amitav Ghosh; Winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, Maria Ressa; Britain’s great historian an author Willian Dalrymple; multifaceted Chinese-French-American writer and Women’s Prize for Fiction 2024 nominee, Aube Rey Lescure.
National icons are set to make prominent appearances as always. The festival will spotlight Soesilo Toer, celebrating his work and the centennial of his brother, Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Renowned writer and 1998 activist Ayu Utami will also grace the festival along with one of the country’s most popular writer Dee Lestari; widely-celebrated author of the Netflix-adapted novel ‘Gadis Kretek’, Ratih Kumala; and also Seno Gumira Ajidarma, the eminent figure behind the famous credo “When journalism is silenced, literature must speak.”
For the full speaker list, click here.
“We’re bringing you everything you could ever wish for at a literary festival: emerging and established Indonesian and international writers, each of them a powerhouse of words and ideas for our curious readers and critical minds in a dazzling array of panels and events,” said Festival Founder and Director, Janet DeNeefe. Indeed, this 5-day festival has something for everyone, from avid readers and growing writers to culture enthusiasts, cinephiles and even foodies.
This year’s festival theme is ‘Satyam Vada Dharmam Chara: Speak the Truth, Practice Kindness’, encouraging candid dialogue and understanding to build bridges and connect. The participating authors are known for work that encourages goodness and truth. Join the discussion at the 21st edition of Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Full lineup and programs are now available online.
Click here for tickets: ubudwritersfestival.com/tickets
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