Three Legendary Buleleng Dances to be Performed En Masse at Bulfest 2026
Three legendary dances from Buleleng, namely Trunajaya, Wiranjaya, and Palawakya, will be performed en masse at the Buleleng Festival (Bulfest) 2026. Each dance will involve as many as 50 dancers.
“These are Buleleng’s legendary dances. It will certainly be very exciting,” said Buleleng Regent I Nyoman Sutjidra during the Bulfest 2026 press conference on Friday (14/8/2026).
According to Sutjidra, the presence of arts practitioners connected to the journey of Buleleng’s artistic heritage is a momentum to reunite the legacy of the past with the current generation. Moreover, the great name of Buleleng dance maestro I Gede Manik will also resonate on the Bulfest 2026 stage. His last student, Luh Menak, is scheduled to perform a legendary Buleleng dance.
Luh Menak will not perform alone. The next generation of Gede Manik’s students will also dance in the festival, which will be held in Singaraja on 18–23 August 2026. Sutjidra emphasised that their presence is part of the Buleleng Regency Government’s efforts to bring legendary arts back to the community.
Bulfest 2026 committee chairman Putu Ariadi Pribadi said the Buleleng Regency Government has prepared an immersive concept, inviting visitors to directly experience the atmosphere of old Buleleng through a people’s market, culinary offerings, arts, culture, and historical stories. The concept highlights Buleleng’s traces as a region of trade, governance, education, and culture.
“Buleleng has an old town, colonial heritage buildings, and distinctive cultural heritage of North Bali. Based on that historical trace, Bulfest 2026 uses an immersive approach,” said Ariadi.
Visitors will not only watch performances. They will also be invited to enter the atmosphere of the past through the Old-Time Market, the Buleleng Story House, historical archives and photographs, open-air cinema, traditional games, and traditional cuisine.
Bulfest 2026 carries the theme Uriping Rasa, which means reviving the feeling, stories, and identity of Buleleng. The festival is divided into three zones. Zone A brings the nuance of old Buleleng, Zone B serves as a modern and creative space, while Zone C highlights sustainable culture.
“Visitors are invited to feel the atmosphere of old Buleleng through arts, culture, culinary offerings, and various activities that represent the life of Buleleng society during its golden age,” Ariadi explained.
This year’s Bulfest involves around 155 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and nearly 60 arts groups. Craft products, culinary offerings, fashion, traditional arts, and modern performances will fill the festival area.
Ariadi hopes that Bulfest 2026 will not only be entertainment but also a way to strengthen Buleleng’s identity once again. “The aim is to strengthen the community’s sense of pride in the region’s historical, cultural, and local potential heritage,” he said.