Rare Angon Kite Festival Returns: Thousands of Kites Fill the Sky at Bali's Mertasari Beach
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Rare Angon Kite Festival: Thousands of Kites Decorate the Sky at Mertasari Beach
The skies above Mertasari Beach in Sanur, Bali, have been filled with thousands of traditional Balinese kites and international creations during the Rare Angon Kite Festival, running from July 23 to 26, 2026.
On the opening day, kites took flight from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time (WITA). This year's festival also features a giant kite measuring 25 metres long and 20 metres wide, one of the main highlights of the opening.

The second day followed with daytime flying from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, followed by the much-anticipated Night Flying spectacle at 7:00 PM, accompanied by live music. During the evening session, kites equipped with LED lights glow spectacularly against the dark sky, making the night display just as captivating as the daytime show.
The third and fourth days feature traditional Balinese kite competitions, while international kite flying moves to the Muntig Siokan location.
This year's festival draws participants from 23 countries, including Austria, Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, India, and Germany. A total of 105 international kites soared through the sky in a variety of creative shapes — from strawberries and frogs to wayang puppets and Ganesha. In the traditional Balinese category, over 1,000 kites took part.
The festival also celebrates three types of traditional Balinese kites: the bebean (fish-shaped), the pecukan (elongated oval), and the janggan — considered the most majestic. The janggan kite is carved to resemble the cosmic dragon Basuki, with a tail stretching over 100 metres in black, red, and white.
Because the janggan is considered sacred, it traditionally undergoes a special ceremony before being flown for the first time.
The name 'Rare Angon' comes from one of the manifestations of Lord Shiva in the Balinese belief system — Sang Hyang Rare Angon, depicted as a shepherd who summons the wind through his magical flute so that kites can fly.
In traditional farming culture, kites were also believed to help drive away pests during the harvest season. The figure of Rare Angon is also worshipped on the sacred day for animals known as Tumpek Kandang.

