Art Centre Bali, Denpasar: Bali Arts Festival guide

Art Centre Bali, officially Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar, is a government-run cultural park in central Denpasar. It is one of the main venues for the Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali, or PKB), where you can watch dance, music, theatre, parades, and exhibitions in one place.

This guide explains what Art Centre Bali is, how the Bali Arts Festival works, the key stages, opening hours, how to get there, and how to combine it with other sights in Denpasar.

Last updated: 18 November 2025 (WITA)

“Lebih nyaman membaca dalam Bahasa Indonesia? Buka panduan Art Centre Bali.”

Because policies and schedules change from year to year, always double-check before you go:

• The current Bali Arts Festival (PKB) dates and theme
• Official opening hours of Taman Budaya Provinsi Bali
• Any special ticket rules for indoor shows or specific events

Quick answers: Art Centre Bali

• What is it? Art Centre Bali is a cultural park and performing arts complex owned by the Provincial Government of Bali in central Denpasar.
• Where is it? Address: Jalan Nusa Indah No. 1, Sumerta, East Denpasar, about 10 to 15 minutes by car from the Renon district.
• When is the Bali Arts Festival (PKB)? PKB usually runs from mid-June to mid-July, with performances scheduled on most days.
• How much is the entry fee? Entry to the park area is usually free. You pay for parking, food and drinks, shopping, and any ticketed indoor shows.
• Who is it for? It suits culture and festival lovers, families, school groups, and tour groups who want to see Balinese arts performed live.

Art Centre Bali and the Bali Arts Festival

What is Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar?

Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar is a cultural park dedicated to Balinese arts. Inside the complex, you find open-air and indoor stages, garden areas, Balinese-style buildings, and walkways connecting each zone.

Locals usually call it Art Centre Bali or the Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar. Outside major festivals, the park is often quiet, and some stages are not in use every day. During the Bali Arts Festival, many of these spaces come to life with performances from day to night.

What is the Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali)?

The Bali Arts Festival, or Pesta Kesenian Bali (PKB), is a provincial arts festival first held in 1979.

Typical elements include:

• Traditional and contemporary Balinese dance
• Gamelan and other music performances
• Drama and theatre
• Cultural parades
• Visual art and craft exhibitions
• Food and regional product stalls from all regencies of Bali

The cultural park is one of the main bases for these events, but some parts of PKB also use other venues in Denpasar.

By pattern, the festival usually runs from mid-June to mid-July each year. Recent examples (always reconfirm official dates):

• PKB XLVI 2024: around 15 June to 13 July 2024
• PKB XLVII 2025: 21 June to 19 July 2025

The opening is usually marked by a large cultural parade around the Bajra Sandhi Monument (Monumen Bajra Sandhi) in Renon. After that, performances continue on different stages inside Taman Budaya Provinsi Bali from daytime into the night.

How Art Centre fits into Bali’s cultural experiences

Many visitors’ first experience of Balinese culture is at Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu) with its evening Kecak dance, in Ubud with galleries and Legong shows, or in traditional villages like Penglipuran Village (Desa Wisata Penglipuran).

Art Centre Bali adds another angle: during PKB, you can see different forms of Balinese arts in one compact area, moving between parades, competitions, dance and music stages, and craft exhibitions in a single visit.

If you already know Kuta and Ubud and want to see how Bali presents its arts to local audiences, this park and festival can be a useful extra stop.

Short history and role of Denpasar cultural park

The idea for Art Centre Denpasar is closely tied to Dr Ida Bagus Mantra, the sixth Governor of Bali, who focused strongly on preserving Balinese arts and culture.

He reportedly donated around 5 hectares of his own land for the development of this cultural park, which was designed as a place for Balinese artists to rehearse, create, and perform, and for residents and visitors to watch their work.

Today, Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar still serves as a venue for performances and festivals and as a practice space for art communities.

What you will find at Art Centre Bali

Main stages and performance areas

Inside the Art Centre Bali, there are several performance spaces, both open-air and indoor.

They are used for:

• Traditional and modern dance shows
• Drama, sendratari, and theatre
• Gamelan and other music concerts
• Art competitions between regencies, especially during PKB

During the Bali Arts Festival, audiences often move from one stage to another following the daily schedule, and the main areas fill with spectators, families, school groups, and art troupes from across Bali.

Galleries, exhibitions, and the night market during PKB

The Provincial Cultural Park of Bali also has indoor exhibition halls and gallery spaces that can feature woven textiles and traditional clothing, Balinese jewellery, carvings and sculptures, and paintings.

During PKB, the area inside and around Taman Werdhi Budaya usually fills with exhibition stands and a night market. You can find simple local food, regional snacks, products from small businesses, and creative works from young Balinese artists, with weekend evenings usually the busiest.

Key zones and stages to know

For a first visit, it helps to recognise a few names on the map inside Taman Budaya Provinsi Bali:

• Ardha Candra Open Stage (Panggung Terbuka Ardha Candra) – a large outdoor amphitheatre for big performances, gong kebyar parades, and major PKB evening shows.
• Ksirarnawa Hall (Gedung Ksirarnawa) – multi-level indoor hall for music, theatre, and official events with controlled sound and lighting.
• Ayodya Arena and Madya Mandala (Kalangan Ayodya dan Madya Mandala) – semi-open arenas for medium-sized dance, theatre, and music performances.
• Exhibition halls and art galleries – buildings such as Gedung Kriya, other exhibition halls, and the art library for visual art, craft shows, and book-related events.

When you arrive, look for a site map near the main entrance or at an information counter, and pick up any event brochure so you can plan a simple walking route.

Regular days versus the Bali Arts Festival season

On regular days

• The park is often quiet, and there may be no large open-air performances.
• It suits visitors who want to see the architecture, gardens, and take photos without crowds.

During the Bali Arts Festival (around mid-June to mid-July)

• The performance schedule runs from daytime to evening.
• Visitor numbers are higher, and food and craft stands appear around many areas.
• Activities are spread across the main zones, including school visits and tour buses.

If your main goal is to watch live performances and feel a festival atmosphere, plan to visit during PKB.

If you prefer a calmer cultural walk and easier parking, choose a weekday morning or late afternoon outside the festival period.

Practical visiting information

Location of Art Centre Bali

Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar is located at: Jalan Nusa Indah No. 1, Sumerta, East Denpasar, Bali. It sits close to government offices and the Renon area.

For navigation in Google Maps, search for:

• “Taman Budaya Provinsi Bali”
• “Werdhi Budaya Art Centre Denpasar”

Opening hours and general atmosphere

For regular days, common visiting hours for 2024–2025 are:

• Monday to Thursday and Saturday: around 7.30 am to 3.30 pm WITA (UTC+8)
• Friday: around 7.30 am to 1 pm
• Sunday and national holidays: usually closed for normal visits

During the Bali Arts Festival, opening hours and activities usually extend from morning until night, and many events run until about 10 pm according to the official schedule.

Because hours can change, especially around major events, recheck:

• The latest opening times
• Updates from official government channels, PKB social media, or the Provincial Department of Culture

Best time to visit

For a festival atmosphere

• Visit during the Bali Arts Festival, usually from mid-June to mid-July.
• Late afternoon and evening are the liveliest times, with more visitors and a stronger crowd feel.

For a quieter visit

• Come outside the PKB period.
• Choose a weekday morning or late afternoon to avoid the strongest heat and peak office traffic in Denpasar.

Distances and travel times from popular areas

These are approximate distances and driving times to Taman Werdhi Budaya Denpasar in normal conditions:

• Kuta Beach: about 13 km (8 miles), roughly 40 minutes
• Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK Cultural Park): about 25 km (16 miles), roughly 55 minutes

Your actual travel time depends on traffic, especially in the morning and late afternoon, the type of vehicle you use, and the route suggested by your navigation app. Use these numbers as a planning guide, not a guarantee.

Getting to the Denpasar cultural park

Your best transport option depends on where you stay and how comfortable you feel with Bali traffic.

From South Bali (Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran)

From the main southern resort areas, you can usually choose:

• Motorbike rental, for confident riders who want flexible routes
• Car with driver, for families and small groups who prefer comfort and local navigation
• Regular taxi
• Online ride-hailing apps

For larger groups, tourist buses or minibuses are common. During PKB, aim to arrive earlier than showtime, because the streets around the park can be very crowded when popular performances are about to start or finish.

From East Bali (for example, Candidasa and nearby areas)

From East Bali, the drive passes busy main roads into Denpasar, so most visitors book a car with a driver for a half or full day and let the driver handle traffic and parking. Motorbike rental can work for experienced riders who are comfortable with longer distances and mixed traffic, but it is less common for families.

What to bring for a comfortable visit

Most of Art Centre Bali is outdoors, and you may walk between stages and exhibitions. These items help keep your visit comfortable:

• A compact umbrella or a light rain jacket, especially in the rainy season
• Hat and sunscreen
• Drinking water and a small snack
• Cash for food, drinks, or crafts
• Power bank and charging cable
• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
• A camera or phone with a sufficient battery and storage

If you visit during PKB, also allow extra time and patience for queues, finding seats, and moving through busy areas, especially on weekend evenings and during popular shows.

Short impressions and what to expect

The Denpasar cultural park is a practical way to see several sides of Balinese culture in one place. You can walk past traditional-style buildings and courtyards, see major stages like Ardha Candra and Ksirarnawa, and explore craft exhibitions and the night market during PKB.

The main advantages are that entry to the cultural park area is usually free, it is easy to reach from many parts of Denpasar, and it suits families, school groups, and art lovers who want to see live performances in a local setting.

The main things to prepare for are crowds, limited parking, and heavier traffic during PKB, and a quieter feel with fewer shows on regular days. Matching your visit time with your expectations makes it easier to decide whether to include the Balinese arts complex in Denpasar in your plan.

Combining Art Centre Bali with other Denpasar sights

Denpasar, the capital of Bali, has several attractions close to Taman Werdhi Budaya.

Many visitors combine the Bali provincial arts and cultural park with:

• Bajra Sandhi Monument (Monumen Bajra Sandhi) in Renon
• Bali Museum (Museum Bali)
• Sanur Beach (Pantai Sanur)

A simple pattern for a day in Denpasar is:

• Morning or midday: visit a museum or the Bajra Sandhi Monument
• Late afternoon or evening: spend time at Denpasar cultural park, especially if the Bali Arts Festival is running

Enjoy live culture, local crowds, and a mix of performances and simple street food, including Art Centre Bali during the Bali Arts Festival. It can be a memorable part of your Bali plan.