Bandung City Government and Big Bad Wolf to Host Pages & Plates Festival 2026
The Bandung City Government, through its Archives and Library Office (Disarpus), is collaborating with Big Bad Wolf Books to present the Pages & Plates Festival 2026. The event is scheduled to take place at Bikasoga Sport Center from 3 to 9 August 2026. This festival marks the first time a Big Bad Wolf event is held directly in the centre of Bandung, combining an international book bazaar, a culinary festival, and various educational activities in one integrated location.
Dewi Kaniasari, Head of the Bandung City Archives and Library Office, stated that the festival is a direct follow-up to the Mayor’s directive to bring the spirit of literacy closer to the public. ‘Seeing the success of Big Bad Wolf in other areas, the Mayor wanted this spirit of literacy to be present directly within the Bandung City community. We have packaged it as the Pages & Plates Festival, not just a book bazaar, but a festival combining literacy, culinary experiences, and a space for community creativity,’ she explained.
The concept was chosen to ensure that visitors are not only coming to purchase books but also to enjoy a pleasant reading experience with their families. The festival will feature the Big Bad Wolf international book bazaar as its main attraction, alongside a culinary festival curated in collaboration with the renowned food community Keuken. Over the seven days, a variety of activities will be held, including storytelling for children, creative workshops, and talkshows, as well as an expression stage for local creative communities.
Country Director of Big Bad Wolf Books Indonesia, Marthius Wandi Budianto, noted the special significance of the event, as it coincides with a decade of Big Bad Wolf’s presence in Indonesia. ‘We share the same vision as the Bandung City Government to enhance public literacy and make reading a part of everyday life, not just a lifestyle,’ he said. The festival will offer more than one million books across various categories at affordable prices, starting from Rp25,000. Organisers are targeting over 20,000 visitors per day and hope the event will boost the creative economy, support local culinary MSMEs, and strengthen Bandung’s position as an inclusive, family-friendly literacy tourism destination. All festival activities will be free to enter.