Sanur Village Festival: Sanur’s Biggest Beachside Community Party

If one event brings all of Sanur down to the beach, it is the Sanur Village Festival (often shortened to SanFest). Launched by the Sanur Development Foundation in 2006 as the community’s answer to the tourism slump after the second Bali bombing, it has grown into the largest people’s festival in the Sanur area — and almost the entire programme is free to enjoy.

When Is It Actually Held?

Many older guides still say “around August”, but recent editions have moved to the end of the year. The 17th edition ran on 16–20 October 2024 and the 18th on 7–9 November 2025, both at Mertasari Beach (the Muntig Siokan area) rather than Matahari Terbit Beach as in the early years. Official dates for the 2026 edition had not been announced at the time of writing — check the official channels before booking flights.

What to Expect

• Balinese food court: lawar, sate lilit and traditional market snacks, plus the ngelawar cooking contest staged in the 2025 edition.
• Music stages: names such as Navicula, Gugun Blues Shelter and Yovie & Nuno have performed here alongside local Balinese bands across many genres.
• Kites and the sea: traditional bebean, janggan and pecukan kites, parades of jukung fishing boats and watersport activities along the shore.
• SME and art exhibitions: local crafts, art installations and green programmes such as beach clean-ups, yoga and the Sandikala Run.

Best Hours, Parking and Access

The liveliest window is late afternoon to night, roughly 16:00–22:00: the sun is down, the food court fills up and the main stage comes alive. Parking pockets around Jl. Danau Poso and the Mertasari access road fill quickly on festival weekends, so arrive early or take a ride-hailing car or ojek and get dropped at the entrance. Bring small cash notes and a water bottle, because queues get long at peak hours.

Practical Info & Booking

• Location: Mertasari Beach area, Sanur, Denpasar — View on Google Maps
• Tickets: entry to the festival grounds is generally free; some contests and workshops need separate registration. Budget around Rp50,000–150,000 per person for food and local shopping.
• Schedule: recent editions take place in October–November, not August. Always confirm the current year’s official dates before travelling.
• Social media: @sanurfestival
• Where to stay: Sanur hotels sell out during festival week — lock in a room well ahead, especially for the weekend.

So you are not left without a room near the beach during SanFest, compare prices and secure a Sanur hotel stay voucher through AccessiaPass well in advance.