Celebrating Literature with Ubud Readers & Writers Festival 2025

On Wednesday, 1st October, The Ubud Readers & Writers Festival (URWF) held their press conference in Wisma Habibie & Ainun. The highly anticipated festival is a four day literary festival that will be held in Ubud, Bali starting 29 October until 2 November. Celebrating literature and the people who work in the industry, including award-winning authors, leading journalists, and political commentators, URWF will be joined by hundreds of those mentioned from both Indonesia and overseas. From the press conference, founder and director of Ubud Writers Festival, Janet De Neefe, explained why they decided to use ‘I am the Universe’ or in Javanese, ‘Aham Brahmasi.’ De Neefe stated that the theme was born from the reality that we are part of the universe. “In the midst of technological developments, especially AI, we face an important question: how do we preserve our unique creativity amid such major changes in the world?” She also added, “This Festival is truly designed to foster relevant conversations, which in turn give rise to such exciting programs.” 

Janet De Neefe was accompanied by three groundbreaking Indonesian authors and two candidates of Festival Emerging Writers’ Program 2025 at the press conference. Ratih Kumala, one of the three groundbreaking Indonesian authors who also served as a curatorial board member of Festival Emerging Writers’ Program 2025, stated that this Festival can be a bridge for us to face the challenge that is caused by human nature, exploration and exploitation. In response to this Festival as a bridge, URWF will be publishing the works of Festival Emerging Writers’ Program 2025 candidates in two languages by Penguin Random House, allowing them to reach a global audience while carrying their Indonesian values. Kumala also mentioned that her latest novel, Koloni, will be featured in one of the panels, a fable that draws an analogy to human socio-political conditions through the power struggle of 200 ants in a colony, which she believes is highly relevant to today’s social and political situation.

When was asked about what are the activities they will be going to do at URWF, Sasti Gotama, Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2025 winner, said she will be joining the Rewriting Women's History panel, which resonates with her novel Korpus Uterus, a work that explores women’s lives and seeks to present them as whole stories whose struggles deserve recognition.” In addition, Sasti will also appear at the Festival Club program to discuss the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Award. Meanwhile, Angelina Enny, 2nd Prize Winner of the 2025 “Rasa” Literary Award, reported she will join the panel titled Chinese Indonesian Women and the Forgotten History discussing the persecution of the Chinese community since the colonial era. At the press conference, she said, “UWRF is an important platform to meet writers from around the world, build networks, understand global issues, and bring forward social and political ideas that enrich all of our perspectives.”

Another highlighted moment was when the two candidates of Festival Emerging Writers’ Program 2025 gave their thoughts on what challenges are to see how far the inspiring writers can develop in Indonesia. Wawan Kurniawan mentioned that the biggest challenge was the battle with themselves and also he thinks literature in Indonesia is very segmented. He sees the ecosystem have a big impact on a writer's development, which when you are in a good and supportive ecosystem and also have a privilege or opportunity, your development can be smooth and guaranteed. Udiarti, another candidate, stated that it has 3 factors. Reference of figures from the past for the writers to find ideas and creative processes. Also space for the writers to have their stepping stone. The last is networking to find a publicist, editor, and many sectors.

As mentioned above, about 200 speakers will attend the festival. Among the highlights of the program are the winners of the 2025 International Booker Prize: Indian author and women’s rights activist Banu Mushtaq, whose debut short story collection Heart Lamp won alongside its translator Deepa Bhasthi; and German novelist Jenny Erpenbeck, winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize for Kairos are the two out of 200 speakers. When asked what are you most excited and waiting about URWF 2025, Ratih Kumala mentioned meeting the Heart Lamp author. While Janet De Neefe is to meet Jenny Erpenbeck. Both Mushtaq and Erpenbeck will join a panel inspired by Virginia Woolf’s idea of women carving their own rooms to write, reflecting on what women today choose to write and craft behind prize-winning works.

Along with prominent historians David Van Reybrouck and William Dalrymple, the Festival also features well-known international voices like Lebanese-Australian journalist Antoinette Lattouf, Japanese journalist and #MeToo advocate Shiori Itō, and Egyptian-Canadian novelist Omar El Akkad. Together, they will start discussions about colonial history, Indonesia's 80th anniversary of independence, gender and intersectionality, and freedom and justice.

The Festival also had the honor of presenting Taufiq Ismail, an Indonesian poet and writer, with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award during the press conference in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indonesian literature. Taufiq, who started his career in the middle of the 1950s, rose to prominence as one of Indonesia's most significant writers. His poetry tackles pressing social and political issues in addition to sensitively capturing the beauty of nature. Numerous of his compositions have been adapted for the stage and performed all over the country, serving as a testament to his enduring social commitment as well as a record of his time. In honor of receiving this award, Taufiq Ismail performed one of his poems titled Sebuah Dunia.