Table of Thoughts: Inside the Press Launch of UWRF 2026

Image Credit by Wisesa & UWRF

UBUD, BALI — The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) 2026 held its official press launch at the newly opened Sudamala Resort in Ubud, unveiling its theme and initial speaker lineup for this year’s edition. Centred on human experience, historical memory, and social transformation, the festival continues its mandate as a global forum for ideas.

This year’s main theme is Samarasā—an ancient concept representing balance and harmony, framed by festival founder Janet DeNeefe and I Ketut Suardana around three distinct pillars: Awareness, Empathy, and Action. The organizers emphasized that while understanding and feeling for others is vital, meaningful change requires active engagement.

A Sanctuary for Dialogue

Opening the session, Festival Director Janet DeNeefe reflected on Ubud’s enduring role as a gathering place for writers,artists, and thinkers. DeNeefe described UWRF as an open "Table of Thoughts." In a fragmented global landscape, the festival maintains a safe, collaborative environment for free expression and constructive debate.

She noted that unanimous agreement is not the objective; rather, the festival encourages participants to sit down, respect opposing viewpoints, and listen deeply. Beyond formal panel discussions, the programming connects attendees through shared meals, cultural gatherings, and community events.

Migration, Identity, and Solitude

Booker Prize-winning author Kiran Desai spoke on identity, global movement, and the necessity of quiet contemplation. Desai spent formative early years in the border town of Kalimpong near Sikkim in northeastern India, an environment that shaped her interest in how geography, politics, and culture define belonging. Drawing on her experiences living across diverse neighborhoods in New York City alongside global diaspora communities, Desai observed that migration is never merely a statistic—it remains a deeply personal narrative.

She also addressed the value of solitude, noting that in an era marked by digital noise and political polarization,intentional time spent alone allows writers and individuals to reclaim inner focus and clarity.

Memory, Landscape, and Loss

Colombian writer and poet Andrea Côté Botero drew parallels between the landscapes of Colombia and Bali. Botero noted that while both regions possess extraordinary natural beauty, both carry complex, painful histories. In Colombian literature, writers frequently navigate themes of conflict, displacement, and the yearning for lost spaces.

For Botero, landscape actively shapes human consciousness. She emphasized that poetry extends beyond text on a page,functioning as an attitude toward life and a tactile sense of place.

Preserving Personal Histories

Author Tari Lang spoke on the imperative of documenting family histories during periods of historical crisis. Lang shared reflections related to her book My Neighbour, The Dictator, which details her family’s firsthand experience during the 1965 political turmoil in Indonesia, during which both of her parents were imprisoned without trial. Lang stressed that recording these personal accounts is not about maintaining resentment, but about ensuring historical accuracy and offering context for future generations.

Nurturing Emerging Literary Voices

Curator and Jakarta-based book editor Siska Yuanita provided updates on the UWRF Emerging Writers program.

The curatorial team reviewed over 600 manuscript submissions from across the Indonesian archipelago before selecting 10 standout writers, including two female authors from Bali.

Yuanita highlighted two primary thematic directions within this year's selected works:

(i) Digital Realities: Technology and online interactions are no longer treated as peripheral background elements, but as deeply integrated components of everyday life.

(ii) Post-Human Perspectives: Writers are increasingly looking beyond human-centric narratives to explore nature,ecological systems, and technological environments.