Bali Spirit Festival 2026 once again opened its doors at Yoga Barn, inviting participants from all over the world to immerse themselves in yoga, dance, music and deep practices. From 15 to 19 April, the jungles of Ubud and the island’s most popular yoga space became an epicentre of transformation, offering a huge range of activities and unforgettable experiences. This year, the festival exceeded all expectations, bringing back beloved traditions while also introducing exciting new highlights.
This year felt like a completely different level of energy, with a bigger line-up and a wider range of practices. The festival became not only a platform for yoga and the arts, but also a powerful driver for the region’s tourism.
Just imagine: the festival turned 18 this year. It was launched in 2008 to help Bali recover after difficult times, and today it’s a magnet for five thousand mindful travellers from all over the world.
Festival founder Made Gunarta noted: “This festival is not only about yoga. It’s about how people from very different backgrounds can find connection and inspiration for life.”
Interestingly, another equally cool and well-known festival, Day Zero, took place in Uluwatu on the other side of the island on the same dates, and compared to previous years there were far fewer people at Bali Spirit. The first two days were a different story, because the organisers made them free.
There was a huge variety of practices at the festival: yoga and meditation, women’s circles, relationship talks, talks on body pain from guest speakers not only from Bali, dance practices, kirtans, mandala-weaving workshops, drumming masterclasses, Human Design, astrology and Tarot readings, and much more — everyone could find something they were genuinely interested in. There were many practitioners who have been based in Bali for a long time, as well as invited speakers.
Festival speakers, musicians and practitioners
In the evenings, there were celebratory concerts featuring artists from around the world and from Indonesia. The festival offered a vibrant mix of global music, free dance, sacred sound and intercultural creativity, designed to inspire both human connection and movement.
BaliSpirit isn’t “a party just for the sake of it”. Part of the funds and resources went towards real support for Bali.
The organisers handled parking really well. You could leave your motorbike at a dedicated festival parking area, at the main car park near Monkey Forest, and near Coco Market, and there were also shuttle buses running. The main entrance to Yoga Barn was closed off.
The 2026 programme was so packed it was hard to choose: hundreds of workshops and classes ran from morning until late at night, and you could try a bit of everything:
- Yoga for every taste: from classic hatha and vinyasa to powerful anusara and relaxing yin yoga.
- There were martial arts classes (silat and capoeira), qigong, ecstatic dance, and even hula-hoop lessons!
- Ecstatic dance and dances from around the world: mandala dance, Javanese and Balinese traditional dances, West African drumming, Brazilian music.
- Women’s and men’s practices.
- The traditional temazcal — always one of the most mystical and profound parts of the BaliSpirit Festival. In 2026, set against the Ubud jungle, it felt especially powerful.
Main entrance area
Everything was decorated with Balinese decorations, which made it feel especially festive.
Decorations
After entering, we moved into the Spirit Pool and Love Quad areas, designed for free creative expression.
Spirit Pool and Love Quad areas
The photos were taken in the morning, so there weren’t many people around — or everyone was in covered spaces attending workshops.
Next, past the food court, we reached the main stage — Grove Main Stage — where the main performances took place, as well as mass yoga sessions and ecstatic dance.
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Main stage — Grove Main Stage
Talks took place in air-conditioned yoga studios.
Talks in the studio
In the evening, the main stage was packed — lots of free dance and celebrating life!
Main stage in the evening
Yoga practices for every taste
The 2026 festival confirmed its status as a paradise for yogis of all levels and preferences: calming ashtanga yoga, dynamic kriya yoga, anusara yoga.
For those who love to fly and crave new sensations, there was Fly High Yoga with Julia Light.
Yin yoga and myofascial release, as well as Deep Body Dialog, helped participants tune into subtle bodily sensations. Unique yoga-and-shamanism sessions drew special attention, bringing together ancient traditions.
Music, movement and ecstatic dance without borders
The movement programme at Bali Spirit Festival 2026 was truly limitless, blurring the lines between cultures.
Participants could dive into the basics of capoeira, or test themselves with handstand skills in the Inverted Mindset class.
Practices focused on inner energy also stood out — such as qigong: Balance Your Fire.
And for those looking for joy and playfulness, there was Art of Fire Dance, which often includes elements of hula-hoop and other types of flow arts, bringing a sense of freedom and self-expression.
The heart of the festival beat to the rhythm of ecstatic dance throughout the day. In the evenings, Global Bass Ecstatic Dance with Blase and Afro Tribal House with Exuberance brought hundreds of people onto the dancefloor for free dance. Grove Main Stage was dedicated to this.
The festival’s opening ceremony, with a Balinese introduction and a ceremonial gong, immersed participants in the island’s rich cultural atmosphere.
Main stage during the day
The café area familiar to Yoga Barn visitors was also used, and the restaurant was closed — it became a space for the festival’s performing artists.
Activity spots around the venue
In the evening, those who wanted a more private dancefloor moved to the Tea Temple, where the lighting was more intimate, and tea was served throughout the festival.
Across the venue, there were small activity spots and extra sessions: Tarot readings, stretching, energy sessions, face painting.
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Tarot, face painting, chill-out zone
Festival areas
- Grove Main Stage
The festival’s main stage and the epicentre of large-scale performances and evening concerts. This is where the opening ceremonies, Balinese traditional performances and powerful music sets took place, bringing hundreds of people together for free dance.
- Spirit Pool
This area was dedicated to daytime parties and poolside rhythms. Participants could enjoy morning DJ sets and energetic performances by the pool, creating a light and relaxed atmosphere.
- Tea Temple
A more intimate and soulful vibe could be found at the Tea Temple. This is where kirtans and eclectic music sets took place, offering a deep dive into sound and meditation.
Tea Temple area and various musicians
- Surya & Nyoman Stages
These stages were often used for intensive dance workshops, where you could learn different styles of dance and movement.
- Love Quad
A space designed for interactive sessions and flow arts such as Art of Fire Dance, where participants could express themselves through movement and creativity.
Temazcal: a rebirth ritual
If you thought BaliSpirit was only stretching and dancing, you missed the hottest part. This year’s schedule gave special attention to the temazcal — an ancient Indigenous purification ceremony often called a “sweat lodge”.
This practice is always one of the most mystical and profound parts of the BaliSpirit Festival. In 2026, set against the Ubud jungle, it felt especially powerful.
It’s not just a sauna in the usual sense. It’s a dome-shaped structure symbolising the womb of Mother Earth. Inside it’s completely dark, filled with the scent of herbs and red-hot stones (“grandfathers”), which the facilitator pours water mixed with essential oils onto.
Inside the temazcal, we came face to face with all the elements: fire, water, air and earth. The heat of the stones and thick steam cleansed our bodies, minds and spirits. It became a true inward journey — a time to let go of the past, remember what matters, and return to the world with renewed strength and gentleness.
- Day 1 — Water: “Remembering the origins”
On the first day, we worked with the energy of the South. We learned to acknowledge our talents and gifts, reflected on how we use them in life, and called upon the power of our ancestors. Water reminded us that within each of us there can be both complete stillness and a powerful storm at the same time.
- What to bring: Participants prepared sarongs, swimwear and a change of clothes in advance.
- Offerings: Many brought “gifts from the heart” — fruit or seeds — to share with the group and the spirits.
- Full commitment: The key condition was being ready to stay until the very end. The facilitators promised that a sincere desire to meet your true nature would not go unrewarded.
- Day 2 — Earth: “Abundance”. Direction: East
On the second day, we grounded ourselves, absorbing the wisdom of the earth and the patience of natural cycles. We learned to trust the natural flow of things. The trees around us served as a silent reminder: true growth always takes time, and there is immense power in that unhurried pace.
- Day 3 — Fire: “Joy”. Direction: West
This day was devoted to awakening passion, self-expression and the courage to be seen. In the heat of the stones, we reignited our inner fire. The flame reminded us of the main thing: there’s no need to be afraid to shine and bring your light into the world.
- Day 4 — Air: “Elevation”. Breath of Life. Direction: North
The final day opened us up to clarity, expansion and a deep connection with spirit. We worked with breath, feeling how air fills the space. It was a reminder that everything around us is infused with spirit, and we are an inseparable part of it.
Getting into the temazcal was a quest in itself — there were many people who wanted to join, pre-registration was required, and places went instantly.
The ritual was traditionally divided into four stages, each dedicated to a specific element and cardinal direction. In the tight space and intense heat, accompanied by drumbeats and the singing of shamanic icaros, time simply disappeared. People sang together, cried, laughed, and let go of everything unnecessary.
When you step out of that “steam room” into the cool Balinese evening, it feels like you’ve genuinely been reborn. Your skin can breathe, your head is empty, and inside there’s that same quiet emptiness and calm.
For many, the temazcal became the point of deep transformation at this festival. It was a tough but beautiful challenge to yourself: two hours in complete darkness, in heat, alone with yourself.
Women’s and men’s practices: deeper self-discovery
The festival paid special attention to practices aimed at deepening the connection with yourself and others.
For women, there were exclusive classes such as Women’s Self-Care with Barbra Noh and Modern Dating & How To Rewrite Your Love Story with the well-known blogger Sasha Hart, where he created a safe space to explore feminine energy and relationships — something very relevant today.
Men and women could explore relationship dynamics together in Conscious Relating sessions with Dean Powell, and also build inner strength and clarity through practices such as Primal Moves and The Warrior Mind, which support leadership skills and self-awareness.
Food court and market on site
An abundance of Ubud favourites: Alchemy, KAFE, Healthy Ubud, The Raw Temple.
This was a highlight in its own right. Dozens of stalls with local and European food. There were plenty of vegetarian, raw and even meat options — nobody went hungry.
Surprisingly, alcohol was available at the event — there was even a bar on site, open until late at night, keeping people refreshed with drinks.
In addition to the stages, there was a huge Dharma Fair Market across the venue, featuring various brands — from boho and ethnic outfits to beautiful jewellery and dresses.
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Food court and market area
Charity
Since 2010, the festival, together with teachers and musicians, has raised more than $200,000 for charity. This year, the festival once again supported two important initiatives:
- Ayo! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS — an awareness and health protection programme.
- Bali ReGreen — a project to restore the island’s forests.
The 2026 festival introduced many exciting new elements that broadened its horizons. Special attention was given to the World Peace Garden concept, where meditations and workshops dedicated to global peace took place.
Photos from the BaliSpirit website
Bali Spirit Festival is not just a yoga and mindfulness festival, but a real step towards harmony and unity among people of all cultures.
It’s a festival that lights a fire in the heart of everyone who comes here. And it doesn’t matter how perfect your asana is — what matters is how open you are to the world. There were so many beautiful people, and everyone was smiling and enjoying the moment.
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