The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival announces the first lineup of international and Indonesian storytellers joining the Festival in Ubud from 21–25 October, guided by this year's theme: Samarasā: Awareness. Empathy. Action.

In its 23rd year, the Festival celebrates extraordinary stories and amplifies brave voices, bringing together international and Indonesian writers, thinkers, artists, and activists to create vital space for cross-cultural dialogue and connection from 21 to 25 October, with Early Bird tickets now on sale until 18 August for full access to over 100 sessions.

Headlining the Festival is Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai, who will discuss The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, her rich, bustling epic exploring migration and identity. Malaysian author Tash Aw, longlisted for the Booker Prize, brings The South, where he recalls the life-changing period he spent on his family's dilapidated farm as a teenager, whilst Booker Prize finalist Katie Kitamura presents her thrilling new novel Audition, which examines the performances we put on for others and exposes the shams that underpin them.

Also joining this year is New York-based Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung, who has received numerous accolades and whose dresses have been worn by Former American First Lady Michelle Obama and the Duchess of Cambridge. He brings creative vision to the Festival and will present his debut memoir Walk Like a Girl, which confronts the hard truths about being an independent designer today.

Making her debut at the Festival, Randa Abdel-Fattah, winner of the Victorian Premier's People's Choice Award, brings Discipline, which explores who has the right to tell stories and whose voices are heard. The novel sparked significant debate when Abdel-Fattah was disinvited from Adelaide Writers' Week in 2026, triggering an extraordinary show of solidarity with more than 180 writers withdrawing and the entire festival being cancelled.

Taking centre stage to argue, challenge, and stand for what matters are two fearless voices committed to truth-telling: Palestinian author Adania Shibli brings Minor Detail, a National Book Award finalist weaving a 1949 account of violence with a contemporary narrative uncovering Palestine's hidden history, and Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto presents The Hour of the Wolf, a devastating account of abuse and survival interrogating power and silence.

The history, science, and future of the wind will be illuminated by celebrated British-American journalist Simon Winchester through his New York Times bestselling nonfiction book, The Breath of the Gods. He will be joined by Australian Professor and world-leading expert in forest and woodland ecology David Lindenmayer, whose decades of research help us see the forest for what it truly is.

Speaking truth through Indonesia's lens are investigative journalist and filmmaker Dandhy Laksono, whose documentaries from Sexy Killers to Dirty Vote and his latest, Pesta Babi, have sparked public conversation unflinchingly examining power and complicity, and Dian Purnomo, whose breakout novel Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam exposes the brutal tradition of kawin tangkap, forced bride kidnapping on the island of Sumba.

The Festival also celebrates Indonesian storytellers such as writer and historian Raisa Kamila, whose Perkara Keramat interrogates Acehnese resilience and historical memory; Valiant Budi, whose memoir Kedai 1001 Mimpi captures the perspective of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia; poet Cyntha Hariadi, whose work examines language and colonial heritage through innovative wordplay; and Louie Buana, who connects the La Galigo manuscripts, an epic Bugis text from South Sulawesi preserved in poetry, with contemporary storytelling.

An additional retreat complements the already-announced memoir intensive with Peter Godwin. Acclaimed Hong Kong author Xu Xi leads a two-day retreat from 19 to 20 October exploring Asian narratives and universal storytelling. With Mongrel International Inc., the retreat brings writers together through structured critique and feedback, welcoming those working in memoir, narrative nonfiction, and life-based fiction.

"The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival continues to be a beacon for extraordinary stories and brave voices from Indonesia and across the globe," said Festival Founder and Director Janet DeNeefe. "This year's lineup represents the very best of what we stand for, diversity, courage, and the transformative power of words."

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

Early Bird 4-Day Festival Passes, offering full access to talks, panels, readings, and conversations from 21–25 October, are on sale until Tuesday, 18 August. General tickets and day passes will be announced following the Early Bird deadline.

Early Bird tickets, concession options, and FAQs are available at ubudwritersfestival.com/tickets

Information about the Writers' Retreat with Xu Xi, taking place from Monday, 19 October through Tuesday, 20 October, and how to book can be found here.