Cultural immersion doesn’t get much more fascinating than attending festivals in Asia and Western Australia, where festival-goers are just as likely to be locals as international tourists. From a rainforest to a UNESCO World Heritage site to artists’ studios, you might be surprised that some festivals in Asia and Western Australia are so special that you will happily plan your holiday around these eight unique festivals in Asia and Western Australia.

Suara Festival, Bali

In July 2024, the three-day Suara Festival, features the headline Australian act of Angus & Julia Stone, as well as Neil Frances, Youngr, Brandt Brauer Frick, Ramengvrl and Yung Raja. 2024 celebrates the music and cultural festival’s third anniversary, timed perfectly with the opening of Nuanu, a new satellite city on the Tabanan coastline designed as an integrated ecosystem with spaces dedicated to education, wellness, culture, art, high-end sustainable accommodation and nature-inspired living. Once you arrive, you have everything you need in one spot, such as high-end accommodation options (townhouses, houses, apartments & hotels), a beach club, working spaces, artist residencies and a studio open to artists to work in and then exhibit onsite in the art gallery. Showcasing acts across Indonesia, Southeast Asia and Australia across nine stages, it is very fitting that Suara means voice in Indonesian at one of the most epic music festivals in Asia.

Highlight: Experiencing this much-loved destination in a new light opens up a world of opportunities.

Where: Nuanu, Tabanan coastline, Bali

Stay: Nuana or at the new Holiday Inn in Canggu

Nuanu City, credit Suara/Nuana

Dates: 2025 dates to be announced

Details: www.suarafestival.com; www.nuanu.com

Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak

I loved the Rainforest World Music Festival so much that I attended it in twice, in 2023 and 2024. Held in Sarawak, Borneo, about an hour from the capital in Kuching at the Sarawak Cultural Village on the Damai Peninsula, 2024 celebrated the 27^th anniversary. As the name suggests at one of the most unique music festivals in Asia attracts artists from around the world, ranging from Cuban percussionists to an acrobatic act from Tanzania, to a rock band from the Maldives to the didgeridoo played to the backdrop of Balinese drums – the element of surprise is what makes this festival so eclectic reverberating around one of the oldest rainforests on earth.

Highlight: I’ve been a fan of the Gipsy Kings for as long as I can remember, so not only seeing them perform at the 2023 RWMF but also meeting them was one of those pinch-me moments.

Where: Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Stay: Damai Beach Resort or Cove 55

Dates: 20-25 June 2025

Further reading: You might enjoy these articles recounting my own experiences of the RWMF in the Common Thread – Guide to the Music Festival Inside the Rainforest and Have A Go News – A Borneo discovery enjoying the Sarawak serenades in the rainforest. Here is a link to my radio segment with Travel Writer’s Radio: Carmen Jenner Loves the Global Harmony at Rainforest World Music Festival Sarawak.

Details: www.rwmf.net

Dates: 26 – 28 July 2024

Details: www.suarafestival.com; www.nuanu.com

Margaret River Region Open Studios, Margaret River Region, Western Australia

This 16-day art festival is one of its kind in Australia, where over 140 artists open up their studios and invite the public in for a unique perspective of their process of painting, pottery, printmaking, sculpting and photography, and a few unexpected surprises. The Margaret River Region Open Studios (MRROS) spans across Busselton, Dunsborough, Cowaramup and Margaret River. Running for the 11^th year, the only problem is deciding who to visit with so many artists, events and talent. Jacksons Drawing Supplies and regional visitor centres are the best spots collect your guide or head to the website. If you’re short on time and can only visit a handful, add these renowned artists to your list Leon Pericles, Rebecca Cool, Christian Fletcher, John Miller, Lesley Meaney and Lauren Wilhelm.

Highlight: It’s wonderful to see how this art festival grows each year and since writing the Artists of the Margaret River Region book in 2017 showcasing 80 artists, the event now has over 140 artists in 2024.

Where: Margaret River Region

Stay: Visit privateproperties.com.au or margaretriver.com for some inspiration. Best to book early so you don’t miss out.

Dates: 7^th to 22^nd September 2024

Details: www.mrropenstudios.com.au

CinefestOZ, Margaret River Region, Western Australia

Also in Western Australia’s Margaret River Region, the CinefestOZ film festival showcases over 80 films, star-studded premieres and events at iconic locations across the region. Genres range from drama, comedy, horror and documentaries, and you just never know who you could be seated next to in the cinema or rubbing shoulders with at the gala night or closing party. As if there weren’t already many reasons to visit the Margaret River Region, attending CinefestOz is just one more reason to visit during spring, which also runs in Broome (24-27 Oct) and Albany. Purchasing a Cinepass gives you access to discounts and multiple screenings or you can go all out and purchase a Platinum Cinepass for optimum hob-nobbing opportunities. Or you can put your hand up as a volunteer for behind-the-scenes access while supporting the film industry.

Highlight: What’s really lovely about this festival is how accessible the screen legends are, where meandering up to Isla Fischer, Hugo Weaving or David Wenham is encouraged. When I attended in 2022, Richard Roxburgh was the Jury Chair and and I had a fan-girl moment with Matthew Nable.

Where: Busselton, Margaret River Region

Stay: Most of the screenings and events are held in Busselton and surrounds.  Head to margaretriver.com for some options, and highly recommend the Hilton Inn Busselton and Willow Wood Glamping Retreat.

Dates: 31^st August to 8 September 2024

Details: www.cinefestoz.com

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Ubud, Bali

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival returns to Bali’s cultural heart in Ubud from 24^th to 27th October with an Indonesian and international line-up at one of the most anticipated festivals in Asia. With dozens of program sessions, events, masterclasses, cultural sessions, exhibitions, film screenings and book launches, you’ll need to map out your time carefully to make the most of the long weekend. Ubud is an incredible destination in the Gianyar hill region and here is your Ultimate 4-day Ubud Itinerary and Eat, Lay, Bend and Write.

Highlight: It’s been a few years since I’ve had the opportunity to attend the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, and besides I don’t really think I can sum it up any better than Australian Musician and Writer Nick Cave, “Literature and the arts is essential in any society; and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival does such an excellent job in nourishing this role both in Indonesia and beyond. Ubud is dear to my heart; the collision of writers and artists from all corners of the world that makes up the unique spirit of the Festival; the bottomless xqxq of the Balinese; the sticky days and cooler nights.”

Where: Ubud, Bali

Stay: From villas to homestays to luxury resorts, Ubud has accommodation options for all budgets. Here are some of my suggestions of unique places to stay in Ubud

Dates: 31^st August to 8 September 2024

Details: www.ubudwritersfestival.com

KITA Food Festival, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The KITA Food Festival returns for the fourth time to Kuala Lumpur 4^th – 8^th September with some of the biggest names in the culinary world across Southeast Asia and Australia. Chefs from all over the regions will be holding culinary conversations and events from Phuket (Jimmy Ophorst, PRU), Bangalore (Johnson Ebenezer, Farmlore), Bangkok (Prin Polsuk, Samrub Samrub Thai), Jakarta (Hans Christian, August), to name a few. Some Australian chefs will be joining the festivities, including Louis Tikaram (Stanley restaurant, Brisbane) and I’m intrigued by Ben Devlin’s (from Pipit, Pottsville, NSW) kitchen takeover at Yellow Fin Horse (Kuala Lumpur) using Australian native ingredients for a plant-forward and meat-free menu. The culinary madness continues in Singapore from January to March 2025

Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Stay: Else Hotel

Dates: 4^th – 8^th September, 2024

Details: www.kitafoodfestival.com

Pair’d, Margaret River Region, Western Australia

I can’t think of a better location to combine food, music and culture than the Margaret River Region. Over four days, from 14^th – 17^th November, this is a first for Western Australia with this  “wine first” event curated through a sommelier’s lens. The talented line-up includes esteemed international chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, including Dave Pynt (Burnt Ends, Singapore), Kyle and Katina Connaughton (SingleThread Farm, CA) and Jonny Lake (Trivet, London). As you can imagine, this event will sell out almost as fast as the accommodation options, so there’s no time to waste.

Where: Margaret River Region, Western Australia

Stay: Click here for some suggestions in the Margaret River Region

Dates: 14^th – 17^th November, 2024

Details: www.pairdmargaretriver.com

Galle Literary Festival, Galle Fort, Sri Lanka

I’ve planned at least two holidays to Sri Lanka to attend the Galle Literary Festival, which runs on the south coast in the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort and surrounds. As one of the most anticipated festivals in Asia since its establishment in 2007, you could be sharing a meal with legends like Candace Bushnell, Dame Maggie Smith and Richard Dawkins. With a tagline of “A harbour of discovery, where tales arrive on tides,” literary lunches and dinners, gourmet events, art trails, live performances, parties and book readings set within this magical tear-shaped isle are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.

Highlight: Meeting Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell on Taprobane Island, who was the guest of honour at the Sex in a Sarong party was a night to remember. The only way onto the island was to wade through the sea at low tide…hence the need for a sarong. You can read all about this incredible event at the Galle Literary Festival here. You might also enjoy these posts about Sri Lanka.

Where: Galle Fort and surrounds, Sri Lanka

Stay: From villas to homestays to boutique hotels, Galle has accommodation options for many budgets. Here are some festival accommodation recommendations.

Dates: 6 – 9 February 2025

Details: www.galleliteraryfestival.com; www.srilanka.travel