Nestled in the lush, verdant heart of Ubud, the Bali Spirit Festival is a unique experience beyond the boundaries of a typical wellness retreat. Bringing together a vibrant, diverse community of spiritual seekers, yogis, musicians, and artists from around the world, this annual event has earned a reputation for being a transformative journey for the mind, body, and soul. This comprehensive review and guide to the Bali Spirit Festival will explore the classes and activities offered. This was my seventh time attending the Bali Spirit Festival, and in this article, I share all my tips with you to make the most of the festival.
What is the Bali Spirit Festival?
The Bali Spirit Festival is an annual event in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. It celebrates yoga, music, dance, and other wellness and spiritual practices. The 2025 festival lasted four days and attracted thousands of participants from all over the world. The festival features a variety of activities and workshops, including yoga classes, meditation sessions, dance workshops, and healing sessions. There are also talks and discussions on various health, wellness, spirituality, and sustainability topics.
In addition to the workshops and activities, the Bali Spirit Festival features a vibrant marketplace where vendors sell handmade crafts, organic foods, and other sustainable products. Nightly musical performances feature a diverse range of world music, from traditional Balinese music to contemporary fusion.
The festival promotes health and wellness, cultural exchange, and environmental sustainability. It allows people from all walks of life to unite and celebrate their shared values and interests.
This year felt different. The ongoing tensions around the Iran war weighed heavily on travel, and the festival saw a wave of cancellations. Plans shifted, uncertainty lingered, and for a moment, it seemed like the spirit of the event might be diluted.
Yet, the organisers chose not to cancel.
Instead, they adapted. The Bali Spirit Festival was shortened from four days to three, with the opening day transformed into a community day—free and open to everyone in Ubud. It changed the energy completely. There was something more local, more grounded, almost more intimate about it.
And somehow, despite the challenges, it became one of the most memorable editions.
I’m genuinely glad they went ahead. Because beyond the disruptions, this year was filled with unexpected discoveries, meaningful encounters, and moments that reminded me exactly why this festival matters.
Why attend the Bali Spirit Festival?
Some of my key reasons to attend the festival (and why I keep going back 😊) include:
- Discover new teachers and practices: The festival features a diverse range of workshops and activities, which means you’ll have the opportunity to try new things and learn from experts in their respective fields.
- Relax and recharge: Bali is known for its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and serene landscapes. Attending the Bali Spirit Festival is a great way to take a break from the stress and busyness of daily life and recharge your mind, body, and spirit.
- Be hosted by friendly and beautiful Balinese people: The staff at the festival are incredibly friendly and professional. The number of smiles and nice gestures from them is mind-blowing.
- Deepen your spiritual practice: The festival offers a wide variety of workshops and activities that can help you deepen your spiritual practice, whether you’re interested in yoga, meditation, or other forms of wellness and self-care.
- Immerse yourself in Balinese culture: The festival provides an opportunity to experience Balinese culture’s unique traditions and customs, from music and dance to food and art.
- Have fun and dance: The dance and music program is a significant part of the festival; if this is your thing, you can dance up to 10 hours a day!
Where does the Bali Spirit Festival take place?
The location of the Bali Spirit Festival tends to change occasionally, so check for updates for the 2026 festival. Since 2022, the festival has returned to the Yoga Barn, a large yoga complex situated in the heart of Ubud. While this location is smaller than the 2019 venue, it has the distinct advantage of being right in Ubud’s center. If you choose your accommodation wisely, returning to your room for a shower or rest between classes is easy. Read below to discover the best accommodation options near the Yoga Barn.
To help you narrow down your search, here are two highly-rated stays located just minutes from the venue where you can easily compare prices and secure the best deal:
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Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa (Top Pick for Luxury & Wellness)
Check availability and compare rates on:
Agoda |
Booking.com -
Japa Suites & Villas (Top Pick for Modern Boutique Comfort)
Check availability and compare rates on:
Agoda |
Booking.com
Festival Site and Facilities
The festival site spans several acres and offers a wide array of facilities, including yoga studios, meditation rooms, a healing center, and even two swimming pools, one of which is heated for WATSU classes. One significant advantage of holding the festival at the Yoga Barn is that it’s already equipped for yoga classes. Yoga mats and props are readily available in most studios.
Tip: The festival website tells you to bring your yoga mat but if the festival is held at the Yoga Barn, you don’t need it as all the studios are equipped with mats and props.
In addition to the well-equipped studios, the Yoga Barn also has proper toilet and shower facilities, offering more comfort than typical festival cubicles. However, the venue does have its drawbacks. Due to its smaller size and room capacity, classes can be full, so planning and early arrival for desired classes can be crucial for the most popular workshops. Capacity seemed to be better managed this year than last year, as only one of the classes I wanted to attend was full. Even the Breath of Bliss class, which is usually overbooked, was easy to get into.
Tip: For the popular classes, they start giving out numbers to guarantee class access about 30 minutes before the start of the class. So if there is a popular class you really want to attend, make sure to get your number 30 minutes before. You can then go and walk around and come back 5 minutes before the start of the class.
A Diverse Array of Classes
One of the things I love most about the Bali Spirit Festival is the sheer variety of classes offered each day. At any given moment, six or seven sessions unfold simultaneously, making the choice surprisingly difficult. You quickly realise you can’t do it all—at best, you might manage four or five classes a day, and even that feels like a stretch.
Last year, I was very intentional in what I wanted to see. I chose sessions that truly resonated with me—balancing curiosity with a deeper commitment to my yoga practice. This year, my approach was the complete opposite. Instead of carefully planning my schedule and choosing each class with intention, I let go of structure altogether. I didn’t map out my days or overthink my choices—I simply followed my instinct, moving from one space to another, trusting that I would end up exactly where I needed to be. It felt lighter, more spontaneous, almost like allowing the festival to guide me rather than trying to control the experience. And somehow, it worked too. I found myself in the right place at the right time, again and again. Some of the most powerful sessions were not the ones I would have chosen on paper, but the ones I discovered by chance—unexpected moments that ended up being the most memorable of all.
Fierce Grace: Meeting the Dark Feminine in a World in Transition
One session, in particular, stayed with me long after it ended: Fierce Grace: Meeting the Dark Feminine in a World in Transition. I hadn’t planned to attend it—it was one of those moments I simply stumbled into. They had two very special surprise guests. And yet, it became one of the most powerful experiences of the entire festival. What made this session truly special was the presence of Lama Dolma and Ida Resi Alit. There was a quiet authority in the way they spoke—grounded, deeply embodied, and impossible to ignore. True wisdom was shared. I learned about the use of sounds and singing as a tool for transformation—how it can transform energy into spirit.
The conversation explored something rarely spoken about so openly: the rising presence of the Dark Feminine in a world that feels increasingly unstable. Rather than something to fear, the panel invited us to see this as a force of transformation. A fierce grace. Not destructive, but revealing. Clearing illusions. Forcing honesty. Helping us to understand that light comes from the darkness.
Tone, a freeform vocal workshop
Still carrying the energy of the previous session, I stepped into Tone, a freeform vocal workshop led by Joseph Crossley—and it felt like a natural continuation of everything I had just experienced.
There was no performance, no expectation, no need to “sing well.” Instead, the session gently guided us into using our voices as instruments—exploring breath, vibration, and resonance in a way that felt both deeply personal and surprisingly collective. Joseph began by sharing insights from years spent studying the acoustics of sacred spaces—from ancient temples to the Pyramids of Giza and even Gothic cathedrals. It added a quiet depth to what followed, as if sound itself carried memory.
At first, it felt unfamiliar—letting sound emerge freely, without structure. But slowly, the room shifted. Individual voices started to blend, harmonies formed organically, and something almost meditative took over. You could feel the vibration in your chest, in your throat, in the space around you. It wasn’t just about sound—it was about sensation.
What struck me most was how immediate it all felt. Just moments after learning about sound as a tool for transformation, I was experiencing it directly—feeling how vibration could move energy, soften emotions, and create connection. It didn’t feel like a coincidence. It felt like the festival was guiding me, one step at a time.
Anusara Yoga: The Sacred Sacrum
Another highlight came on my final morning, inside the soft, light-filled space of the River Dome. Anusara Yoga: The Sacred Sacrum, led by Barbra Noh, was one of those sessions that felt immediately practical—yet quietly transformative. It sounded almost too simple: learning how to position the sacrum correctly. But as the workshop unfolded, I realised how much I had been overlooking. Through clear explanations and small, precise adjustments, Barbra guided us into a deeper understanding of the pelvis and lower back—areas that so often hold tension without us even noticing.
What I appreciated most was how accessible it all felt. There was no complexity for the sake of it—just straightforward, intelligent guidance that you could apply instantly. With a few subtle shifts, I could feel a difference: more stability, less compression, and a surprising sense of ease in poses that usually felt effortful.
Chakras – Balancing Life Force
This class was simply fun—in the most unexpected way. From the very beginning, Danny Paradise made it clear: this wasn’t going to be a passive session. We were here to try new things, to step slightly outside our usual habits, and to explore movement in a different way.
What followed was a dynamic blend that felt both playful and deeply rooted—mixing yoga, Tai Chi, and elements of martial arts into one continuous flow. It wasn’t about perfect poses or rigid sequences, but about energy, rhythm, and awareness. At times it felt meditative, at others almost ritualistic, with movements that challenged both coordination and focus.
I found myself fully engaged the entire time—moving, adjusting, occasionally laughing at how unfamiliar some of it felt. And yet, that was exactly the point. It reminded me that growth often comes from stepping into the unknown, even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first.
Free Your Voice & Heal Your Body/Mind
The biggest surprise of the festival came early—at 9 a.m., when I stepped into a class led by Janet Stone. I wasn’t expecting much beyond a gentle morning practice, but what unfolded was something far more special. The session was soft, almost poetic. Movement, breath, and voice blended seamlessly, all carried by live music that created a deeply immersive atmosphere. It didn’t feel like a typical class—it felt like being held in a shared rhythm, where everything slowed down and opened up at the same time.
And then, just when it already felt magical, something completely unexpected happened: Michael Franti appeared.
He began to sing as the class was coming to an end, and within moments, the entire space transformed. What started as a quiet, introspective practice turned into pure joy. People were smiling, moving, dancing—completely present, completely free. It was only 9 a.m., and yet the energy felt like a celebration.
I remember looking around and thinking: where else in the world do you get such talented artists? Moments like this cannot be planned—they simply happen.
Flow State: Water Dance Journey
One of the highlights every year is the Flow State: Water Dance Journey, held in the warm, tranquil setting of the Watsu pool. These water sessions are among the most sought-after at the festival, and for good reason—you need to get there at least 30 minutes in advance if you want a spot.
Even if you don’t attend, you can feel the buzz around it.
The experience takes place in a pool heated to 28 degrees, where movement becomes effortless. You dance, float, and relax in warm water. There’s no choreography to follow—just a gentle invitation to explore your body in a completely different way. In water, everything softens. The usual limits seem to dissolve, and movement becomes intuitive, almost instinctive.
It’s described as deeply calming, almost meditative—a way to soothe the nervous system while reconnecting with natural rhythms.
And if you miss it during the festival, there’s also an opportunity to catch a class with the Liquid Body team every week at The Yoga Barn.
Breathwork Sessions: Powerful, Popular—and Not to Be Taken Lightly
Breathwork sessions are some of the most popular classes at the Bali Spirit Festival, so make sure you get there around 30 minutes before the class starts to get a ticket number.
One of the good sessions is Breath of Bliss: Awaken God Consciousness. It is one of the softer sessions. It was mystical, feminine, and deeply expansive. We began with ecstatic dance and soulful connection, then moved into an hour of powerful breathwork, accompanied by visionary music and hypnotic affirmations. The session was designed to activate intense states of bliss. By the end, I felt very, very relaxed.
A word of warning about breathwork
While breathwork can have many positive effects on mental, emotional, and physical health, it also has potential adverse side effects. Not everyone will experience these, but it’s good to be aware of them and listen to your body during breathwork practices. I saw people being carried out of the breathwork classes as they could not walk anymore. I experienced negative effects during a breathwork session at the festival and was fortunate to have a friend attending with me who could ensure I was safe.
Here are some potentially harmful effects of breathwork that you should be aware of before starting a class:
- Overstimulation: Breathwork can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s “fight or flight” response. If this system is overactivated, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and restlessness.
- Hyperventilation: Some forms of breathwork involve rapid, deep breathing, which can cause hyperventilation. This can lead to light-headedness, dizziness, and even fainting.
- Emotional Distress: Breathwork can lead to the release of suppressed emotions, which can be overwhelming for some individuals, especially if they have a history of trauma or mental health issues. It can potentially cause feelings of panic, fear, or grief.
- Physical Discomfort: Some people may experience physical discomfort during or after breathwork, including tingling sensations, numbness, muscle cramps, or nausea.
- Altered State of Consciousness: Intense breathwork can potentially induce an altered state of consciousness. This may lead to disorientation, confusion, and hallucinations in some cases.
If you feel unwell during a breathwork session, don’t hesitate to stop and seek advice if necessary.
Tip: Get to the festival early. Most people arrive around 10 or 11 am so at 8 am, the festival site is still very quiet and peaceful and you can attend any class you want. They also tend to schedule the most popular classes and teachers first thing in the morning.
Temazcal Experience
One of the more intense and unique experiences at the Bali Spirit Festival is the Temazcal ceremony. Held inside a traditional sweat lodge, this guided ritual is inspired by ancient Mesoamerican practices and is designed as a process of physical and emotional release. You sit in a small, enclosed dome while heated volcanic stones are brought in, raising the temperature quickly. It becomes hot—very hot—and the experience is not just about endurance, but about surrender. Through breath, chanting, and guided intention, the ceremony invites you to let go of what no longer serves you. It can feel challenging at times, especially with the intensity of the heat, but that’s also where the transformation happens. Many people come out of it feeling lighter, clearer, almost reset. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re curious and open to something deeper, it’s one of the most memorable experiences the festival offers.
The Music Scene at Bali Spirit Festival 2026
This year, I experienced the music side of the Bali Spirit Festival a little differently. I chose to focus more on workshops during the day, so I attended fewer performances than in previous years. But if there’s one thing that hasn’t changed, it’s this: if you want to dance, you absolutely can—almost all afternoon and well into the evening.
Music is everywhere. As the workshops wind down, the energy shifts naturally toward the stages. People gather, the atmosphere becomes more vibrant, and it’s easy to spend hours just moving from one set to another.
One of the performances I caught was Nahko. His set had a reflective, storytelling quality, with themes of resilience and personal journey woven through the music. It created a strong connection with parts of the audience, though the overall energy remained more grounded than explosive.
In contrast, Catur Hari Wijaya delivered one of the strongest crowd responses of the weekend, blending electronic beats with traditional sounds that got everyone on their feet. It was the perfect culmination of what makes the music scene here so incredible year after year.
