Lovina Festival 2026 Targets 25,000 Visitors as International Tourist Interest Soars

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Lovina Festival 2026 Targets 25,000 Visitors as International Tourist Interest Soars

The Buleleng Regency Government is targeting up to 25,000 visitors for the Lovina Festival 2026, running from 24–28 July 2026. This optimism is driven by surging tourist interest, with international visitors extending their stays to experience the full festival programme.

Buleleng Regent I Nyoman Sutjidra confirmed that all preparations for the Lovina Festival have been completed. Two main stages at the Tasik Madu and Binaria Beach areas are ready for the festival's opening through to its closing ceremonies.

"We're targeting an average of around 5,000 visitors per day over the five-day event, bringing the total to approximately 25,000 people. Last year we welcomed around 30,000 visitors, so we're hoping this year will be even better," Sutjidra said at a press conference in the Lovina Beach area on Thursday, 23 July 2026.

According to Sutjidra, tourist enthusiasm is already palpable even before the festival's official opening. While touring the Lovina area, he received word from local tourism operators that several international visitors have chosen to extend their stays specifically to enjoy the full festival agenda.

"Some guests staying at hotels around Lovina have decided to extend their stay because they want to experience Lovina Festival. This shows the festival has become a genuine draw for travellers," he remarked.

Sutjidra expressed hope that the surge in visitors during the festival will generate a multiplier effect for the local economy. Visitor footfall is expected to energise local SMEs, boost hotel occupancy rates, and drive visits to various tourist destinations around Lovina.

"The more tourists who come, the greater the economic circulation. SMEs get moving, hotel occupancy climbs, and tourist destinations in villages around Lovina also reap the benefits," he added.

Lovina Festival 2026 Committee Chair Putu Ayu Reika Nurhaeni explained that this year's festival has been extended to five days as a strategy to increase tourists' length of stay in Buleleng.

According to Reika, the festival concept goes beyond mere entertainment — it's designed to give travellers more time to enjoy cultural performances, interact with local communities, and explore the array of tourist destinations across Lovina and its surrounds.

"We have several programme categories — traditional arts come first, followed by modern arts, plus side events," Reika outlined.

Lovina Festival 2026 will involve around 250 performers, 82 SME vendors, and 44 community groups. A diverse programme is lined up, including traditional and modern art performances, a mini sailing boat race with 1,230 participants, cross-country running, the Sapi Gerumbungan parade, a fish-eating promotion campaign, a book launch, and creative economy discussions.

Similar optimism was echoed by Lovina tourism operators. I Nyoman Arya Astawa, a restaurant owner in the Lovina area, noted the festival's impact is visible not just in crowd numbers but in how long visitors choose to stay.

"They stay at hotels for several days, enjoy dolphin-watching trips, then shop at local SMEs around Buleleng. So it's not just about attending one event — there's a real economic ripple effect throughout the festival period," Arya explained.

He revealed that hotel occupancy rates in the Lovina area have begun surging ahead of the festival opening. Based on information he's gathered from hotel managers, many accommodations have been fully booked since Friday, 24 July 2026.

"I tried to find a hotel for a friend and there were simply no rooms left. I checked with several hotels, and many visitors have come specifically to attend Lovina Festival, especially the cross-country event," he concluded.