For the twenty-second time, Southeast Asiaʼs leading literary Festival will once again bring together writers, poets, and thinkers to Ubud from 29 October to 2 November 2025. This year, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) 2025 explores Aham Brahmasmi, a Sanskrit concept from ancient Hindu wisdom, originating in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Translated as “I am the Universe,” it signifies the unity of the human self with the universe, or the highest cosmic power, and it acknowledges that each individual holds the same creative potential as the universe itself. The awareness of Aham Brahmasmi reminds us that our intelligence, however advanced, must be grounded in consciousness and interconnectedness.
Among the highlights of the program are the winners of the 2025 International Booker Prize: Indian author and women’s rights activist Banu Mushtaq, whose debut short story collection Heart Lamp won alongside its translator Deepa Bhasthi; and German novelist Jenny Erpenbeck, winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize for Kairos. They will join a panel inspired by Virginia Woolf’s idea of women carving out their own rooms to write, reflecting on what women today choose to write and craft, and on the craft behind prize-winning works.
As Indonesia’s premier platform for showcasing its writers to the world, the Festival is honored to once again 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, who, along with Balinese novelist Ni Made Purnama Sari, will explore the new wave of poets reshaping form, language, and media.
The Festival is also honoured to present the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Taufiq Ismail, the Indonesian poet and writer, for his extraordinary contribution to Indonesian literature.
UWRF is promising to be a transformative experience for all participants, 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.
In collaboration with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2025, The Public Book is offering a 10% discount for both 4-Day Pass and 1-Day Pass tickets. Simply enter our special promo code at checkout, and the discount will be automatically applied.
How to claim your discount:
1. Visit the ticket booking page: https://ubudwritersfestival.com/tickets
2. Choose the festival pass you’d like to purchase.
3. Enter THEPUBLICBOOK in the “Use promo code” field.
4. Proceed to payment.
Join us at Ubud Writers & Readers Festival and don’t miss this special offer!
