MANGUPURA, balitourismnow.com – The preservation and continuity of Bebarongan art took center stage at the Taman Ayun Barong Festival Regeneration & Superstar 2026. Held at Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi, Badung, on November 6–7, 2026, the festival brought together young children developing their artistic skills and accomplished performers in a celebration of Balinese cultural heritage.
According to the organizing committee, the festival attracted 3,000 visitors over its two-day event. The Regeneration category featured 40 young participants, comprising 20 Bapang Barong performers and 20 Makendang Tunggal participants. Meanwhile, the Superstar category brought together 16 participants in the Bapang Barong and Makendang Tunggal competitions, alongside a special Tari Bojog competition.
Under the theme Cultural Heritage with Community-Based Festival, the event featured competitions, performances, and exhibitions, creating a meeting point for artists, cultural communities, and the wider public.
A Stage for Children: Nurturing the Future of Bebarongan Art
The Regeneration category played an important role in introducing Bebarongan art to children from an early age. Open to participants born between 2012 and 2018, the category provided young performers with opportunities to refine their skills while gaining valuable experience performing before a live audience.
In the Bapang Barong Regeneration competition, participants performed using Barong Buntut, presenting a repertoire that included Topeng, Condong, Ngintip Jangkrik, and Omang. The performances brought together dancers and traditional kendang players, allowing movement techniques and musical sensitivity to develop through artistic collaboration.
I Kadek Lingga Jaya Pranata won first place in Bapang Barong Regeneration, followed by I Kadek Dwi Arya Wiguna in second place and I Made Ghani Maheswa Semara in third. Fourth through sixth places went to Kadek Gilang Pandu Rajata, I Putu Destariyana Putra, and I Putu Gede Wiwekaryana Putra, respectively.
In Makendang Tunggal Regeneration, I Putu Bagus Gading Saputra claimed first place. I Komang Gana Tantra Karang finished second, followed by I Kadek Juna Adi Nugraha in third place. Ni Komang Meilana Puspita Dewi, I Gusti Ngurah Japa Purwaditha, and I Putu Beatricio Harka secured fourth, fifth, and sixth places, respectively.
Superstar Category Brings Together Accomplished Artists
While the Regeneration category focuses on nurturing artistic talent from an early age, the Superstar category provides a platform for performers with established competitive achievements. Participants in the Bapang Barong and Makendang Tunggal Superstar competitions were required to have won first place in Bali-wide competitions at least twice in their respective disciplines.
The performances brought together Barong dancers, Bojog dancers, tedung bearers, and kendang players. Coordination among these performers was essential in presenting a repertoire that included Topeng, Condong, Goak Macok accompanied by tedung, Batel Bojog, Pelayon, and Omang.
The pair of I Komang Yogi Widiastra and I Made Wahyu Dwi Pramana won first place in Bapang Barong Superstar. Second place went to Bayu Permana Sentanu and I Ketut Ari Suganna, while I Made Dwi Yana Bhakti and I Made Juniasa secured third place.
In Kendang Tunggal Superstar, Kadek Denta Dwinanditya took first place. I Made Ramanda Wedanta finished second, while I Dewa Made Dwi Andika Ariesta placed third.
Meanwhile, I Kadek Gilang Arya Arsa won first place in the Tari Bojog competition, followed by I Gusti Ngurah Adi Widiatmika in second place and I Putu Raditya Pratama in third.
Judges Evaluate Performances Across Two Generations
The Bapang Barong Regeneration competition was judged by Kadek Karunia Artha, S.Sn.; I Ketut Suardana; and I Ketut Githa Winarta. The Makendang Tunggal Regeneration judging panel consisted of I Putu Oka Rudiana, S.Sn., M.Sn.; I Putu Dony Suryawan, S.Sn., M.Sn.; and I Nyoman Adi Swarna, S.Sn.
For Bapang Barong Superstar, the judging panel comprised Dr. A.A. Gede Agung Rahma Putra, S.Sn., M.Sn.; Putu Bagus Wisnawa, S.Pd.; and I Putu Eka Darmayasa, S.E.
Meanwhile, the Makendang Tunggal Superstar competition was assessed by I Gde Made Indra Sadguna, S.Sn., M.Sn., Ph.D.; Komang Tri Sandyasa Putra, S.Sn.; and I Dewa Putu Rai, S.Sn.
Towards a More Engaging Cultural Experience for Visitors
The development of the Taman Ayun Barong Festival is also directed towards creating a more participatory cultural experience. The Head of the Badung Regency Tourism Office, Anak Agung Putri Mas Agung, S.T., shared plans to introduce activities that allow tourists to become directly involved in cultural experiences.
“Next year, we are planning a larger-scale event that will directly involve tourists through cultural workshops, with the aim of further improving the quality of tourism in Badung,” said Anak Agung Putri Mas Agung on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
These activities are also expected to create new opportunities for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Through the planned cultural workshops, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about traditional artistic processes and interact with local communities dedicated to preserving Bali’s cultural traditions.
As one of the 125 events featured in the 2026 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar, the festival also supports the promotion of cultural tourism potential in Central and Northern Badung.
From Performing Arts to Miniature Ogoh-Ogoh
The festival experience extended beyond stage performances into the exhibition space through Into the Heart of Heritage, held at Wantilan Taman Ayun. The exhibition showcased miniature ogoh-ogoh sculptures that visitors could appreciate and purchase, creating opportunities for interaction between artists, their creations, and the public.
The programme also featured a Cultural Dinner, bringing together guests and stakeholders through an array of traditional Balinese and Indonesian cuisine accompanied by cultural performances.
All activities took place within the grounds of Pura Taman Ayun, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. Within this cultural landscape, the festival showcased artistic traditions that continue to be practised, studied, and passed down through generations.
With the involvement of Taman Ayun Cultural Space, Sanggar Budaya Mangu Samcaya, and various other organizing partners, the festival provided a platform for artists across generations. Children gained valuable stage experience, accomplished performers had opportunities to further develop their artistic abilities, and the wider community was invited to discover and appreciate Bebarongan art more closely. [ita]