Name: Suwat Water Festival
Start: 2027-01-01
End: 2027-01-01
Location: Suwat Village

January is one of the most culturally significant months to be in Indonesia, especially in Bali. It falls right in the middle of the island’s ceremonial calendar, with Galungan and Kuningan – two of the most important dates in Balinese Hinduism – both taking place this month in 2027.

January also sits at the peak of the rainy season across most of Indonesia, so it is a month that rewards travelers who plan around the weather and around a few genuinely unique local ceremonies.

Below is our guide to the most interesting and useful events taking place across Indonesia in January 2027.

Indonesia Events in January 2027 at a Glance

Date	Event	Location	Type
January 1	Suwat Water Festival	Suwat Village, Gianyar, Bali	Cultural Festival
January 5 (estimated)	Isra Mi’raj	Nationwide	National Holiday
January 13	Galungan	Bali (island-wide)	Religious Ceremony
January 23	Kuningan	Bali (island-wide)	Religious Ceremony
January 23	Mekotek	Munggu Village, Mengwi, Badung	Ritual and Dance
January 31	Ngerebong	Pura Agung Petilan, Denpasar	Temple Ceremony

January 1: Suwat Water Festival

Location: Suwat Village, Gianyar Regency, Bali
Date: January 1, 2027
Type: Local New Year tradition
Admission: Free (community event)

Suwat, a village close to Ubud in Gianyar, marks the new year with a playful local tradition rather than fireworks or a countdown party.

Villagers divide into four teams, each led by a village leader, and set off from four different directions before meeting at the village’s main crossing for a large, good-natured water fight.

It is a small, local event rather than a tourist spectacle, but for travelers staying around Ubud or Gianyar on January 1, it is an easy and authentic way to see a genuinely local celebration rather than a resort-organised one.

January 5: Isra Mi’raj

Location: Nationwide
Date: January 5, 2027 (estimated)
Type: National public holiday

Isra Mi’raj commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey and is observed as a national public holiday across Indonesia.

Because it follows the Islamic lunar calendar, the exact date is confirmed closer to the time, but it is expected to fall on or around January 5, 2027.

For travelers, the practical effect is mostly limited to government offices and some businesses closing for the day. In Bali specifically, which is majority Hindu, day-to-day tourist life is largely unaffected.

January 13: Galungan

Location: Bali (island-wide)
Date: January 13, 2027
Type: Major religious ceremony

Galungan is one of the two most important dates on the Balinese Hindu calendar, marking the day ancestral spirits are believed to visit the earth and the victory of good (dharma) over evil (adharma).

In the days before Galungan, streets across Bali fill with penjor – tall, curved bamboo poles decorated with young coconut leaves, flowers and offerings – placed outside almost every home and business. For visitors, this is the most visible and photogenic sign that Galungan is approaching.

Temples hold ceremonies throughout the day, and many Balinese families travel to be together, similar in spirit to a major family holiday elsewhere. Shops, spas and some restaurants run reduced hours, particularly in the morning, as staff attend temple and family ceremonies.

Travelers do not need to do anything special to experience Galungan, but dressing modestly if visiting a temple during this period, and being patient with slightly slower service at some local businesses, is appreciated.

January 23: Kuningan

Location: Bali (island-wide)
Date: January 23, 2027
Type: Major religious ceremony

Kuningan falls exactly ten days after Galungan and marks the day the ancestral spirits who visited during Galungan are believed to return to heaven.

Offerings on Kuningan are typically made before midday, since it is believed the spirits depart around noon. Yellow rice (nasi kuning) is a common offering, giving the day its name.

Like Galungan, Kuningan is island-wide rather than tied to a single location, so travelers anywhere in Bali on January 23 will see temple offerings, family gatherings and ceremonial traffic around temples during the morning.

January 23: Mekotek

Location: Munggu Village, Mengwi District, Badung, Bali
Date: January 23, 2027 (Kuningan day)
Type: Ritual and traditional dance
Admission: Free (public street ritual)

Mekotek is a distinctive village ritual held in Munggu, traditionally timed to fall on Kuningan day.

Groups of men carry long, decorated bamboo poles through the village streets, meeting at intersections to stack the poles together into human-supported towers, accompanied by chanting and gamelan music.

The ritual is believed to have originated as a way of celebrating victory in battle, and today it functions as both a spiritual practice and a striking piece of community performance.

Munggu is around 30-40 minutes from Canggu or Seminyak, making Mekotek a realistic half-day add-on for travelers staying in south Bali who want to see a ceremony that most visitors never encounter.

January 31: Ngerebong

Location: Pura Agung Petilan, Kesiman, Denpasar, Bali
Date: January 31, 2027
Type: Temple ceremony

Ngerebong is a temple ceremony held at Pura Agung Petilan in the Kesiman area of Denpasar, drawing large numbers of local devotees from the surrounding community.

The event brings together processions, traditional dance and music as part of the temple’s ceremonial calendar, and functions as much as a community gathering as a religious observance.

It is less known to visitors than Galungan or Kuningan, so travelers who happen to be in Denpasar on January 31 have a chance to see a genuinely local temple event without the crowds that gather for the island’s larger ceremonies.

What Are the Best Events to See in Indonesia in January 2027?

If you are choosing events specifically around a holiday itinerary, these are the ones we would prioritize:

For the single most important cultural experience: Galungan and Kuningan (island-wide, January 13 and 23)
For a unique, lesser-known ritual: Mekotek in Munggu
For an authentic local celebration near Ubud: Suwat Water Festival
For a quiet, local temple ceremony: Ngerebong in Denpasar

Planning a January Trip to Indonesia?

January falls in the middle of the rainy season across most of Indonesia, so it is worth planning around the weather as much as around the events calendar.

If Bali is your main destination, you can combine the January events calendar with our Bali for First-Time Visitors guide, best time to visit Bali guide and 10-day Bali itinerary.

Travelers arriving through Denpasar should also check our Bali Airport Guide before arrival.

If you are planning to combine Bali with Lombok, keep in mind that Mount Rinjani’s trekking trails are typically closed to hikers during the peak of the rainy season, historically reopening around March – so January is not a realistic month for a Rinjani trek. Our Bali vs Lombok guide can help you decide how to split your time either way.

If you are combining several Indonesian destinations, our Indonesia Transport Guide can help you understand the main options for getting between islands and cities.

January 2027 Events in Indonesia: Important Note

Galungan and Kuningan are calculated on Bali’s 210-day Pawukon calendar rather than the standard Gregorian calendar, which is why their dates shift each year rather than falling on the same day annually. The January 13 and January 23, 2027 dates in this article are based on that calendar as published by Balinese cultural sources at the time of writing.

Isra Mi’raj follows the Islamic lunar calendar and its exact date is confirmed by Indonesia’s government closer to the time, so treat January 5 as an estimate until officially confirmed.

If you are planning a boat trip to Komodo National Park around this time of year, note that January falls within the northwest monsoon, when sea conditions are statistically at their roughest and operators occasionally suspend sailing permits during severe weather. Build flexibility into any Komodo itinerary planned for January.

Browse Other Months

Sources

Planning a wider Southeast Asia trip?

Vietnam With Me — practical Vietnam travel guides

Cambodia With Me — practical Cambodia travel guides

Siam With Me — Thailand travel guides

Singapore With Me — Singapore travel guides

Indonesia Events in January 2027: Galungan, Kuningan and Things to Do