Ubud Traditional Dance Guide 2026: Schedules, Venues & Tickets

Venues, times and published prices

The five central-Ubud tables follow Ubud Center's published schedule, also reproduced in baseBali's 2026 guide. Their agreement does not independently confirm that a show will run. ARMA's table uses its own programme.

No regular show listed means the source has no weekly performance for that day; it does not mean the venue is closed.

Ubud Palace (Puri Saren)

Published start: 19:30. Ticket: IDR 100,000 per person. Schedule source: Ubud Center.

Saraswati Temple (Water Palace)

Published start: 19:30. Ticket in the weekly listing: IDR 100,000 per person. Schedule source: Ubud Center.

Pura Dalem Ubud

Published start: 19:30. Ticket: IDR 100,000 per person. Schedule source: Ubud Center.

Bale Banjar Ubud Kelod

Published start: 19:30. Ticket: IDR 100,000 per person. Schedule source: Ubud Center.

Padang Tegal Kaja

Published start: 19:30. Ticket: IDR 100,000 per person. Schedule source: Ubud Center.

ARMA Museum & Resort

ARMA's official programme lists performances every day at 19:00. Published tickets are IDR 150,000 per person, except Saturday's IDR 350,000 dinner package. Confirm your selected performance with ARMA.

Saturday includes Kecak Sang Hyang Jaran, live music and a buffet dinner. Allow more time than for a dance-only show.

Which dance should you choose?

Legong: precise movement and gamelan

Watch the coordination of eyes, fingers, wrists and footwork, alongside the gamelan ensemble. Elaborate costumes and finely controlled gestures make Legong a useful first choice if movement and music interest you most. Indonesia Travel's Legong introduction explains its court traditions and performance details.

Kecak: a chorus drives the drama

Interlocking voices provide Kecak's rhythm in place of a gamelan orchestra. A seated chorus surrounds the action, often telling episodes from the Ramayana involving Rama, Sita and Hanuman. Choose it for the group sound and storytelling. A listing called Kecak & Fire includes a fire element; ask about the particular programme rather than assuming every Kecak show has the same ending. Indonesia Travel's Kecak introduction describes the chorus and Ramayana narrative.

Barong and Ramayana: follow the characters

Barong programmes centre on a costumed creature and dramatic character work. Barong and Rangda express opposing forces in Balinese cultural storytelling; Barong & Keris may include staged trance and dagger sequences.

Ramayana Ballet combines dance, music and drama to tell episodes from the Ramayana. It suits readers who prefer following a story across several characters.

Other programme names

Janger brings group singing and dance; Joged is a social dance that may involve audience participation. The listings also use Women Perform, Classic Dance, Bamboo Gamelan and Frog & Barong. Those labels alone do not establish a full repertoire, so ask the venue if a particular dance or musical ensemble matters to you.

Plan your evening

• Arrival: aim to reach the venue roughly half an hour before the published start. This is a planning buffer, not a stated gate-opening time or a guarantee of seating.
• Tickets: confirm the performance date, current price, purchase method and payment options with the venue. Check what your ticket includes, especially for ARMA's Saturday dinner package.
• Clothing: choose respectful clothing for a temple setting and ask whether the selected venue requires a sarong or sash for the performance area.
• Photography: check the show's camera and flash rules, and keep other audience members' views clear.
• Weather and comfort: ask about rain arrangements, seating and access needs before travelling. Leave time for dinner and the journey back rather than planning around the show duration alone.