Indonesia
Nyepi 2027: Bali goes dark for 24 hours on 8 March
At a glance
- Dates
- Next: 8 March 2027
- Where
- All of Bali
- Getting there
- Not listed
- Cost
- Not listed
- Limits
- Must stay in except emergencies; airport and seaports shut 24 hours
The 2026 edition has passed
Dates last checked: 13 October 2026
The festival
Effigies on the eve, then a 24-hour shutdown
Nyepi is the New Year of the Balinese Hindu Saka calendar, the day the whole island gives up fire, work, travel and entertainment, and even Ngurah Rai International Airport stops all scheduled commercial flights. From 6 a.m. on 19 March 2026, 440 domestic and international flights were cancelled over 24 hours and 19 aircraft stayed parked overnight. In 2027 it marks the first day of Saka 1949.
The night before is Pengerupukan. Youth groups (sekaa teruna) from each village, or banjar, carry Ogoh-ogoh effigies several metres tall on bamboo frames, most of them fanged, bulging-eyed demons. In 2026 the Denpasar groups converged on the Catur Muka statue in the city centre, and the youth organisation running the event asked every group to go without sound systems or alcohol. After the parade the effigies are destroyed, a symbolic casting-out of evil.
Both days rest on the same belief: on New Year's Eve evil spirits roam the island, find it dark and silent, assume nobody lives there and leave. So the four restrictions, Amati Geni (no fire), Amati Karya (no work), Amati Lelungan (no travel) and Amati Lelanguan (no entertainment), apply to the whole island. Each village's traditional guards, the Pecalang, enforce them, and visitors are no exception.
Booking
These are affiliate links: if you book through them, VoucherData may earn a commission. You pay the same price.
Prices and ratings checked 13 Oct 2026
Transport
Bali
Bali private car with driver, one day (10 hours)
The whole island stops and the airport closes on Nyepi, so book the day before or after. Entry tickets, tolls, parking and tips are extra, as are trips outside the service area.
from NT$1,070
See plans
Tickets and tours
Ubud, Bali
Ubud highlights private day tour
See the ogoh-ogoh parade, then spend a day in Ubud after Nyepi: a private tour with hotel pick-up, about 9–10 hours, English-speaking guide.
from NT$847
See pricesBatubulan, Bali
Kecak & fire dance with a private Ubud tour
Balinese Hindu ritual as performance; no shows on Nyepi itself, so book the days around it.
from NT$515
See prices
Mobile data
Indonesia & Bali eSIM (sent by email)
Mobile data may be suspended on Nyepi itself; install it around your arrival for ride-hailing and maps on the days either side. Plans start at 5 days with 1 GB a day; no refunds after purchase.
See plans
Details
For those 24 hours nobody leaves their lodging, and the airport and ports shut too. The effigy parades are the night before, so fit every outing in before then.
What day is Nyepi 2027?
Monday, 8 March 2027. The Indonesian government's 2027 holiday decree (SKB 3 Menteri) lists it as the New Year of Saka 1949, with no collective leave day (cuti bersama) attached.
The silence runs from 6 a.m. on 8 March to 6 a.m. on 9 March, a full 24 hours.
The Ogoh-ogoh parades the night before
The parades are on the evening of 7 March. In 2026 the main gathering point in Denpasar was the Catur Muka statue and Puputan Square in the city centre, where people arrived from the afternoon. Village groups also paraded in Sanur, Gatsu and Sesetan. Routes and start times vary. The Gelogor group, for example, first received a holy-water blessing at the village temple, Pura Desa Pakraman, then set off at 19:00 and kept going until midnight.
Ask your hotel which roads will close that evening. Getting back may mean a detour or a walk.
Rules for visitors on the day
The four restrictions apply to everyone on the island. Visitors must stay inside their hotel, villa or other accommodation and may go out only in an emergency. Phones and other devices are allowed as long as they don't disturb anyone. Music, parties and loud talk are not, and lights stay as low as possible after dark.
Your hotel and meals
On Nyepi your accommodation is the only space you have. Some hotels offer limited in-house service on the day, so ask before you check in how meals will be served and whether the pool is open. A resort with a garden or pool gives you room to move around. Every shop is shut, so buy food, water and any medicine by 7 March.
Planning around 7, 8 and 9 March
Fit the beaches, the Ubud rice terraces and temple visits in before 7 March, and watch the parades that evening. Stay in on 8 March. From 6 a.m. on 9 March the airport, seaports and shops reopen, so boats to Nusa Penida and other island trips belong on that day or later. Don't book flights in or out of Bali on 8 March.
Good to know
- Eve-of-Nyepi parades
- The night before is called Pengerupukan (7 March in 2027). Villages carry Ogoh-ogoh effigies several metres tall through the streets and destroy them after the parade.
- Four restrictions
- Catur Brata Penyepian: Amati Geni (no fire or lights), Amati Karya (no work), Amati Lelungan (no travel) and Amati Lelanguan (no entertainment).
- Airport
- In 2026 Ngurah Rai International Airport suspended all scheduled commercial flights from 6 a.m. on 19 March to 6 a.m. on 20 March under NOTAM A0096, a total of 440 flights (231 domestic, 209 international). The 2027 closure window is subject to the airport's announcement.
- Rules for visitors
- Visitors must stay inside their hotel, villa or other accommodation and may go out only in an emergency. They must follow the instructions of the Pecalang, the traditional village guards. Seaports close too.
FAQ
6
What day is Nyepi in 2027?
Monday, 8 March 2027. The silence runs from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. on 9 March, and the Ogoh-ogoh parades are on the evening of 7 March. The date comes from the Indonesian government's 2027 holiday decree (SKB 3 Menteri). The 2026 edition took place on 19 March.
What can't you do on the Day of Silence?
There are four restrictions: no fire or lights (Amati Geni), no work (Amati Karya), no travel (Amati Lelungan) and no entertainment (Amati Lelanguan). Shops close and nobody drives.
Is Bali's airport open on the Day of Silence?
No. In 2026 Ngurah Rai International Airport suspended all scheduled commercial flights from 6 a.m. on 19 March to 6 a.m. on 20 March, 440 flights in total. In 2027 the closure falls on 8 March, so keep your flights off that day.
What rules apply to visitors on Nyepi?
Stay inside your accommodation and go out only in an emergency. No music, parties or loud talk, and keep lights to a minimum after dark. Phones are fine as long as they don't disturb anyone. The Pecalang, traditional village guards, patrol the streets and their instructions must be followed.
Where can you watch the Ogoh-ogoh parades?
In 2026 the main gathering point in Denpasar was the Catur Muka statue and Puputan Square in the city centre, with village parades also in Sanur, Gatsu and Sesetan. Start times vary by village. The Gelogor group, for example, set off at 19:00 and walked until midnight.
What should you sort out before Nyepi?
Buy food, water and personal supplies the day before, keep flights in and out of Bali off the day of silence, and ask your hotel how meals will be served.
Date sources
6
- setneg.go.id · Inilah SKB 3 Menteri Libur Nasional dan Cuti Bersama 2027
- bali.antaranews.com · 24 Hour Operational Suspension During Nyepi at Bali Airport
- merdeka.com
- rri.co.id · Nyepi di Bali Ini Panduan Wisatawan yang Tak Boleh Dilanggar
- bali.antaranews.com · Phri Bali Edukasi Turis Soal Pantangan dan Kondisi Saat Nyepi
- en.wikipedia.org · Nyepi
Read next