Almost everyone has heard about the new city of the future in Bali. Nuanu, built by renowned Russian businessman Sergey Solonin on the oceanfront, far from the usual expat hotspots, is being called a creative hub—a blend of creativity and technology. However, what exactly is meant to draw visitors to this city of the future is still unclear.
Perhaps that's why nearly every self-proclaimed "Bali dweller" gathered for the festival, modestly named Nuanu Nights. And, of course, for the free tickets that anyone could get with a simple registration on the website. The excitement was already palpable at the parking lot, where the island’s most fashionable and stylish residents arrived with flair.
Nobody really knew where to go, but the security line was visible from afar. Although checking free tickets seemed unnecessary, the staff did so meticulously. Each person received a wristband, and a queue formed.
It turned out this wasn't the last hurdle on the way to the city of the future. Right after the ticket check, another line appeared—for the free shuttles. They arrived frequently, but the quickest (or boldest) managed to snag seats first.
You could walk to the festival site, but there was no information about the distance or the route. Those familiar with Nuanu decided to walk, but they were in the minority. The rest covered the one-kilometer journey by electric bus.
Figuring out where to start the Nuanu tour wasn't easy. Most of the area is still a construction site, fenced off by barriers and banners.
As a result, the areas open for visitors don’t flow seamlessly from one to another (as is probably envisioned for the future), but are scattered. There’s no navigation or information either, so you're left to choose a direction at random. The first thing that caught our eye was a children's play area, so we headed there.
A green lawn with bean bags and hammocks greeted us, along with a few food corners and a cart serving alcohol (not for free). This seemed to be for the bored dads. A girl performing traditional Balinese dances served as entertainment.
The dances were more interesting for the parents, while the children gathered around a puppy pen organized by a local shelter. You could pet the puppies, and if you wanted, take one home.
Nearby was a butterfly house, but it was empty. It was hard to spot any butterflies at first, and the few cabbage whites inside looked rather ordinary. Perhaps unique species will appear in the future. For now, visitors left the exhibit slightly puzzled…
No festival in Bali would be complete without a food court, and Nuanu had one too. The food selection was fairly standard. In addition to Bali street food tailored for Western tastes, there were burgers, matcha, and bubble tea. Prices were above average, with 95k for a milk tea seeming excessive, even though it was served from a trendy food truck.
The food court blended into an art market, which also didn’t offer much out of the ordinary: silver jewelry, handmade clothing, and tarot card readings. Inside a large building, which serves as a restaurant during regular times, the décor was beautiful. The combination of natural materials and neon lighting created a magical atmosphere. Upstairs, a DJ was playing, while downstairs a live concert took place.
Outside, you could see the houses that will eventually be home to Nuanu’s residents. For now, they served as dressing rooms for the artists. The future housing looked stylish, though perhaps not suited for long-term stays.
But where to go next was unclear. Few ventured toward the strange long building, but this was where the most creative space was. The Longhouse, as it’s called, is like a gallery. Downstairs is another bar, but upstairs there are several rooms filled with paintings and installations.
Not many people were eager to dive into the art, and the rooms were nearly empty. The crowds that had waited in line at the entrance became more understandable once you approached the Luna Beach Club. This seemed to be the most developed and certainly the most popular spot in the city of the future. The scale was impressive, even compared to beach clubs in Canggu and Seminyak. The daybeds were as big as a small warung, and a recognizable statue stood in front of the ocean—many had seen it on social media. Under neon lights with a DJ set, everything felt very futuristic.
Luna connected smoothly with several restaurants and lounges, and this is where most of the guests gathered. Somewhere, there was also a bathhouse that had recently opened, but finding it was difficult, and the atmosphere didn’t seem right for a spa visit. However, the *Magical Forest* on the way back to the parking lot was a must-see. It was arguably the most impressive spot in Nuanu, making you feel like the space around you had been created by AI.
Upon exiting, there was another café with a magical forest theme. In the city of the future, food and drink options were already plentiful, and unlike the galleries, they were packed with visitors.
The main event of the evening, according to the organizers, was the unveiling of the 30-meter Tri Hita Karana Tower, built on the beach by French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani. The tower was visible from almost everywhere, and at night it transformed into something like a beacon, drawing people toward it.
"Although this is a permanent landmark here in Nuanu, it was designed to be disassembled, moved, modified, and even expanded over time in a way that doesn’t harm the environment but instead adapts to it," the tower’s creator explained in an interview.
The tower may be the largest art object on the island, and it serves as a canvas of sorts. At night, AI paints unique images on it that never repeat. The light show reportedly features several AI artists—Pablo Alpe, Ben Helm, Maxime Ha, and Isaac—who use 1,000 lights, 18 projectors, and a built-in sound system to create digital works of art. Spectators can even interact with the installation through a website that integrates their inputs into the light show.
The journey back was less festive. Staff directed vehicles toward a secondary exit, and to reach the main road, we had to drive a few kilometers over rough, unpaved terrain. We’ll have to wait and see when the city of the future stops feeling like a giant construction site…
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