763 Traditional Balinese Kites Fill Sanur Sky at 10th Denpasar Kite Festival

DENPASAR, BALI — The sky above Mertasari Beach in Sanur turned into a spectacular display of Balinese tradition on Saturday (August 29, 2026), as 763 traditional kites took part in the first day of the 10th Denpasar Kite Festival.

Organized by Pelangi Denpasar, the annual festival marks a decade of efforts to preserve Bali’s kite-flying tradition while providing a creative platform for younger generations and kite-flying communities in Denpasar.

A Decade of Preserving Bali’s Kite-Flying Tradition

Carrying the theme “Dasavarse Patanga Vaibhavam,” the 2026 Denpasar Kite Festival featured a wide variety of traditional and creative kites in different shapes, sizes and categories.

The 763 kites flown on the opening day included traditional Balinese designs such as Bebean, Pecukan and Janggan, with participants divided into plastic, youth and adult categories.

One of the festival’s distinctive attractions was the Bebean khas Sanur, a traditional kite associated with the local community. Its presence highlighted Sanur’s enduring kite-flying culture, which continues to develop as part of the area’s living cultural heritage.

The festival also showcased creative 3D and flat kites, allowing participants to explore contemporary designs while maintaining the distinctive artistic character of Balinese kites.

Large-scale kites were another major attraction. The big-size category, featuring kites with wingspans of more than six meters, stood out in the sky and drew considerable attention from visitors around Mertasari Beach.

Pelangi Denpasar Chairman Ir. I Wayan Mariyana Wandhira, ST., MT., said the festival was more than simply a recreational event, emphasizing its role in preserving tradition and encouraging younger generations to remain connected with Balinese culture.

“Denpasar Kite Festival provides a space to preserve the kite-flying tradition while giving the younger generation an opportunity to continue creating and developing their love for Balinese culture,” said I Wayan Mariyana Wandhira.

He added that the diversity of kite designs and categories demonstrated that traditional kite flying remains relevant among the community while continuing to evolve through innovation and creativity.

Entering its 10th edition, the Denpasar Kite Festival has become an important platform for bringing together kite flyers, communities, young people and the wider public to celebrate one of Bali’s distinctive cultural traditions.

The festival will continue on Sunday (August 30, 2026), with the official opening scheduled to be conducted by the Mayor of Denpasar.

The second day is expected to further boost the festival’s atmosphere while strengthening its role as a meeting point for kite-flying communities and the public.

With 763 kites taking to the sky on its first day, the 10th Denpasar Kite Festival demonstrated the enduring appeal of Balinese kite culture.

From Bebean, Pecukan and Janggan to the distinctive Bebean khas Sanur, creative 3D and flat kites, and giant big-size designs, the colorful display transformed the Sanur sky into a celebration of a decade of tradition and creativity.

Editor – Ray