Makepung Lampit, 15 November 2026 in Kaliakah: A Race-Day Plan

Makepung Lampit 2026 is scheduled for Sunday 15 November 2026 in Kaliakah village, Negara district, Jembrana, according to the event calendar on the Jembrana Tourism and Culture Office website. The same date appears in the Bali Calendar of Events 2026 launched by the provincial tourism office in January.

Unlike the dry-track makepung, here around 40 pairs of water buffalo race across a flooded, muddy rice field pulling a lampit, the wooden board farmers use to level the soil before planting. The course is short (about 50 metres at the 2023 edition), so each heat is over in seconds and the mud flies towards the crowd. The Jembrana tourism site describes it as the closing event of the year's makepung series.

Check This Before You Go

The exact field moves between subak (irrigation cooperatives). The 2023 edition was at Subak Tegalwani in Kaliakah, 2024 at Subak Kaliakah Munduk, and 2025 moved to Subak Pecelengan in Mendoyo Dangin Tukad village on 23 November. For 2026 the official calendar lists Kaliakah, but the specific subak is usually confirmed close to the day. A week before, watch the Jembrana government's social media or contact the tourism office listed on pariwisata.jembranakab.go.id.

The day before, Saturday 14 November, is Tumpek Landep (per kalenderbali.org), when Balinese Hindus make offerings to metal objects, cars and motorbikes included. Expect plenty of vehicles decorated with palm-leaf offerings on the road.

Race-Day Plan, Sunday 15 November

• 6:30am Leave Denpasar or Canggu. Negara is about 95-100 km along the Denpasar-Gilimanuk road; allow 2.5-3.5 hours because of trucks and queues heading for Gilimanuk port.
• 9:30-10am Arrive in Kaliakah. If there are no signs yet, ask locals which subak is hosting; everyone usually knows.
• Parking There is no large car park. Vehicles line the farm roads and villagers' yards, so carry small notes. A scooter is far easier than a car.
• 10-11am Find a spot on the paddy dykes near the finish. A report on the 2015 Kaliakah edition put racing at roughly 11am-3pm local time, with an opening by regency officials before the first heat.
• 11am-1pm Peak time. The finish side is the most crowded. With children, stand a bit back from the course, away from the spray and any buffalo that veer off line.
• 1-3pm Final rounds and prize announcements, then lunch at a warung around Negara.

What to Bring and How to Behave

• Sandals you do not mind ruining, a hat, water. November is rainy season, so pack a light raincoat.
• Put your phone or camera in a plastic bag; mud flies near the finish.
• Never stand inside the course or in the buffalo exit lane, and follow the marshals.
• The dykes get slippery after rain, which makes this a poor fit for wheelchairs and strollers.

Location and Updates

• Kaliakah village: View on Google Maps
• Official contact: Jembrana Tourism and Culture Office, via the event page on pariwisata.jembranakab.go.id.
• Photos and videos of past editions: search on Instagram
• Tickets: the official calendar lists none; past editions were open for villagers and visitors to watch.

Staying Nearby

A round trip from south Bali can take more than six hours, so a night in Negara or around Medewi makes the day far more relaxed. An AccessiaPass stay voucher is one way to compare west Bali hotels before the 15th.

For the background on the tradition, read our guide to dry-track makepung in Jembrana. If you fancy a Saturday morning surf, compare Yeh Sumbul and Medewi first.

If you only have a short window, aim for midday: past editions show that is when heats come thickest and the crowd is biggest.