Straddling the line between an annual industry event and an immersive weekend of art, design, and culture, Jia CURATED has become Sanur’s signature event and one of the year’s most anticipated weekends.
Bali beyond its beaches is a side of the island worth getting to know, especially when its prominent creative streak shows itself in the most unexpected way. Set in Sanur, Jia CURATED is as much an excuse to fill your camera roll as it is to discover emerging brands, exchange business cards, and snack your way through the day.
Originally launched as Jia Curated Kiosks in 2022, this annual weekend event is a multidisciplinary celebration of art, design, architecture, and culture. Guided by a new theme each year and grounded in gotong royong (the Indonesian spirit of communal collaboration) it brings together designers, makers and creative thinkers from across the region.
Big ideas aside, Jia CURATED is at its heart, a brilliantly fun weekend out.
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Bold Show: From Abandoned Theme-Parks to Seaside Stage
In 2024 and 2025, Jia CURATED transformed Bali Festival Park, a theme park abandoned after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, into one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling design destinations. For nearly three decades, the venue sat in steady decline, opening its doors mostly to the occasional urban explorers or the occasional under-the-radar, in-the-know events.
Within the poetic display of decay, Jia Curated wove creativity through half-crumbling buildings covered in graffiti, with installations interacting organically with vegetation that sprout defiantly between broken tiles. The 2024-2025 editions of the event saw many exhibitors embrace the chaos of their surroundings, and meandering between exhibits felt more like an adventure, where a turn could lead you to a carefully curated display, or a starkly empty spot.
For 2026, Jia CURATED turns another page. Leaving the atmospheric ruins behind, and moving to Pengembak Beach, where its new theme, Nature Weave, explores the interconnected relationship between people, design and the natural world. The new venue is set to become an extension of the curatorial vision itself, encouraging visitors to experience design within living landscapes rather than abandoned structures.
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Professional Exhibition vs. Day-Trip for the Family
Jia CURATED previously featured live music, cultural performances, and culinary pop-ups, on top of conversation-started installation and displays offering up the latest designer thingamabob that would elevate your home into an Architectural Digest worthy feature. But beyond booths, the event is a joyful exploration in art and design that welcomes everyone into its embrace.
For industry professionals, Jia CURATED offers meaningful dialogue through panels, workshops, and design showcases that explore art, architecture, and sustainability through a regional lens. In the context of Bali’s rapidly shifting landscape, these conversations provide crucial spaces to connect, exchange ideas, and reflect on the future of creative practice in the region.
If you’re there for the vibes, you’re still as welcome as can be. The appeal of JIA Curated is in its immersive nature. It’s an experience where you can get your own creative juices flowing at pop-up workshops, and interact not only with the exhibits, but with the creators themselves.
And yes, there’s room for a little indulgence. Beyond sculptural lamps that double as art pieces, you’ll find limited-edition fragrances, handmade pottery, soft furnishings, and other little curiosities to take home as a keepsake of your visit.
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Getting Ready for Jia CURATED
- Plan to stay the day. Time flows differently in a space designed for thought and conversation. With so much on offer, you’ll likely want to linger. You can book a multi-day pass if you prefer to explore at a slower pace.
- Dress comfortably. While August isn’t peak heat season in Bali, the seaside location brings high humidity. Opt for breathable fabrics (yes to linen!) and comfortable footwear, and don’t forget your hats and sunnies!
- Bring a tumbler to stay hydrated. With so much to see, taste, and experience, it’s easy to forget the basics. A little extra water goes a long way to keep your energy up so you can comfortably explore.
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Not familiar with Sanur? Start here.
- Start your stay from late July and enjoy the Bali Kite Festival in Sanur. Or extend your August stay to catch a runner’s high at the Bali Marathon, taking place towards the end of the month.
- Stay at Manu Villas, two family-friendly villas in the heart of Sanur that can be booked together or apart. You’ll love its wellness facilities which can help you unwind from a long day of activities.
- Chill in sunny Sanur, and pick your favourite spot to chill from our Sanur foodie recs.
- Looking for outlets for your creativity? Book a pottery class at Kevala Ceramics or make your own jewellery at Charista Bali.
- Find out if Sanur is the family-friendly beach that suits your family best.
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