UBUD, Bali (BPN) – Sthala Ubud Village Jazz Festival (UVJF) 2026 came to a close last night (Saturday, 8 August) at STHALA Ubud Bali, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, concluding two days of performances for the festival’s 13th edition.
The closing night followed an opening evening headlined by Salamander Big Band and enriched by the festival’s first-ever pop-up visual art exhibition.
Festival organisers reported a larger audience on the final night than on opening night, reflecting growing enthusiasm that carried through to the festival’s conclusion.
Throughout Saturday evening, the second day featured ten performances across the Giri Stage and Subak Stage, beginning at 4:30 PM with Westside Vinyl DeeJays on the Community Stage and JZ.KA Trio opening the Subak Stage.
The programme also featured Koko Harsoe & SAN Trio, French duo Watchdog, Pong Nakornchai Ensemble, Dodot Trio, and String Corner Project, before the festival concluded with performances by H ZETTRIO, Jadi Peperzak Quartet, and Salamander Big Band just before midnight.
Across both festival days, performances unfolded across three interconnected venues: the Giri Stage, the riverside Subak Stage set among banyan trees and natural rock formations, and the Community Stage, where Westside Vinyl DeeJays kept jazz-inspired vinyl selections spinning throughout each afternoon.
One of the defining themes of this year’s festival was the passing of jazz from one generation to the next.
Opening the Subak Stage on the festival’s final evening, JZ.KA Trio—Putu Angelika (piano, vocals), Jesse Adiputra (drums), and Samuel Pardosi (double bass)—represented a new generation of Balinese jazz musicians, combining the warmth of romantic vocal jazz with a musical maturity beyond their years.
Together with Rason Trio, who performed on the opening night under the leadership of young guitarist Rason Wardjojo, JZ.KA Trio formed part of UVJF’s “Preservation of Jazzistry” programme, the festival’s long-standing commitment to nurturing Indonesia’s emerging jazz talents.
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to learn jazz. I’ve fallen in love with it, and I feel there’s still so much more for me to discover,” said Putu Angelika, pianist and vocalist of JZ.KA Trio, reflecting on her experience performing at UVJF 2026.
At the other end of the spectrum, Dodot Trio brought together pianist Dodot Atmojo—who has been a cornerstone of Bali’s jazz scene for more than four decades—with Helmy Agustrian (double bass) and Wisnu Priambodo (drums).
Performing selections from their debut album, The Story of White Piano, the trio served as a reminder that on the same stage, the youngest generation and Bali’s veteran musicians continue to share the same language: jazz as a living conversation.
The festival’s closing night also reaffirmed UVJF’s international character.
French duo Watchdog, featuring Anne Quillier (piano, keyboards, Moog, vocals) and Pierre Horckmans (bass clarinet), performed music from their latest album, Fables, with support from Association Jazzé Croisé (AJC) and Institut Français Indonésie.
Pong Nakornchai Ensemble brought together Thai drummer Pong Nakornchai, Indonesian bassist Indra Gupta, and guitarist Michael Ananda Aartsen to perform compositions by American saxophonist Joe Rosenberg.
Meanwhile, the Jadi Peperzak Quartet united musicians from the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Nepal. Led by Dutch guitarist Jadi Peperzak alongside Indonesian pianist Kasyfi Kalyasyena, Nepalese bassist Sulav Maharjan, and Dutch drummer Rafael Slors, the quartet performed music from their debut album, Amity, drawing inspiration from artists including Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. Their appearance was supported by Erasmus Huis Jakarta.
Japanese instrumental trio H ZETTRIO, instantly recognisable by their signature coloured noses—blue for pianist H ZETT M, red for bassist H ZETT NIRE, and silver for drummer H ZETT KOU—took to the Giri Stage with music from their latest album, QUESTUNE, following a recent appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
On the Subak Stage, String Corner Project combined flamenco guitar, jazz improvisation, and Indonesian rhythms through the collaboration of guitarists Adien Fazmail and Icang Rahimy.
The festival officially concluded just before midnight with a return performance by Salamander Big Band, whose 27-piece ensemble had also opened this year’s festival.
Throughout the two-day event, visitors also enjoyed Second Life, the festival’s first visual art exhibition curated by the collective Kala Patha.
Featuring works by eight contemporary artists exploring recycling, upcycling, and sustainability, the exhibition was open free of charge each afternoon from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at STHALA.
Solar-powered charging stations developed in partnership with InfiSolar were also available throughout the festival at the Community Stage booth area, forming part of UVJF’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability.
Festival organisers also announced that Ubud Village Jazz Festival will return to STHALA Ubud Bali on 6–7 August 2027, continuing its mission of bringing together musicians, audiences, and creative communities from Indonesia and around the world.
 at STHALA Ubud Bali, concluding two days of performances for the festival’s 13th edition. ){kind=link}