Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026 is set to bring together surfers, musicians, local communities, and visitors on one of Bali’s most beautiful offshore islands. Held on Nusa Lembongan, just a short fast boat ride from Sanur, this annual event combines competitive surfing, live music, and the relaxed atmosphere of island life.
Nusa Lembongan is already one of Bali’s most popular island destinations, known for its crystal-clear water, reef breaks, dramatic coastlines, and easygoing atmosphere. During the festival, however, the island takes on an even livelier character as local surfers and visiting travelers gather for a celebration centered around waves, music, and community.
The Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026 is included in the Bali Provincial Government’s 2026 Calendar of Events, where it is described as a festival on Nusa Lembongan featuring surf activities and a music stage. The exact dates within September were listed as to be confirmed, so travelers should check the official Lembongan Surf Team channels before making final arrangements.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival?
- The Story Behind the Festival
- Lembongan Surf Team
- The Surf Competition
- The Music Stage
- Discovering Nusa Lembongan
- Why September Is a Great Time for Surf Travel
- How to Get to Nusa Lembongan
- Exploring the Nusa Islands
- Practical Festival Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival?
The Lembongan Surf and Music Festival is an annual island event celebrating two important parts of Nusa Lembongan’s contemporary identity: surfing and music. Rather than being a large commercial festival designed purely for tourists, the event has strong roots in the local surfing community.
The festival combines a surfing competition with a live music programme, creating a relaxed beach atmosphere where competitive surfing during the day can flow naturally into music and social gatherings later in the day.
For visitors, it offers an opportunity to experience Nusa Lembongan beyond its famous beaches and snorkeling tours. It is also a chance to see the island’s surf community in action and experience a local event while enjoying a tropical Bali island getaway.
The Story Behind the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival
The festival forms part of a wider surfing culture that has developed on Nusa Lembongan over many years. Local surfers regularly compete across the island’s reef breaks, while younger surfers have opportunities to learn, practice, and eventually participate in competitions.
The Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026 represents the annual highlight of this community programme. It brings together different generations of surfers, local families, visiting competitors, musicians, businesses, and travelers.
The 2025 edition was held on September 6–7, 2025, at Tanjung Ental Beach in Jungutbatu. For 2026, the festival is expected to take place in September, with the exact dates to be confirmed.
Because festival schedules can change, travelers planning a surf trip to Lembongan should confirm the latest information through the official Lembongan Surf Team website and social media channels as the event approaches.
Lembongan Surf Team: The Community Behind the Event
The Lembongan Surf Team, commonly known as LST, is the grassroots surfing community organization behind the festival. Its activities extend beyond a single annual event, with local surfing competitions and community programmes taking place throughout the year.
One of the most important aspects of the LST programme is its emphasis on bringing together surfers of different ages and abilities. From young local surfers to experienced adults, the organization provides a competitive environment while maintaining a strong sense of community.
This makes the festival particularly interesting for travelers who want to experience the local surf culture in Bali rather than simply visiting a famous surf destination.
Official channels to check before traveling:
- Website: lembongansurfteam.com
- Facebook: @LembonganSurfTeam
The Surf Competition: Riding the Waves of Lembongan
Surfing is at the heart of the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival. Nusa Lembongan is surrounded by reef breaks that attract surfers looking for quality waves and warm tropical conditions.
The island’s main surf spots include Jungutbatu, Shipwrecks, and Tanjung Ental, each offering a different surfing experience.
Jungutbatu is one of the island’s best-known surf areas and provides reef-break conditions that can accommodate different levels of surfing experience depending on the conditions.
Shipwrecks is known for its fast and hollow right-hand wave and is generally considered a more challenging break for experienced surfers.
Tanjung Ental is particularly important to the festival because it has hosted the event’s main surfing activities and provides the backdrop for the competition atmosphere.
The competition programme also reflects the community focus of the Lembongan Surf Team.
- Masters: experienced adult surfers
- Open: adult competitors participating in the open category
- Grommets: junior surfers and young competitors
The Grommets division is especially significant because it provides young surfers from Nusa Lembongan with a platform to develop their skills and participate in organized competition.
The Music Stage: The Soundtrack of the Festival
Surfing is only half of the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival experience. As the surf competition creates the daytime energy, live music provides the soundtrack for the festival atmosphere.
The 2025 festival programme promoted surfing and music together, with performances forming an important part of the event across the festival weekend.
The music programme typically creates a relaxed beach setting where visitors can enjoy performances after watching the surfing competition. Local and independent musicians from Bali and Indonesia contribute to the atmosphere, giving the festival a distinctly island character.
For travelers searching for a music festival in Bali with a more intimate setting, the Lembongan event offers something different from the large-scale festivals found elsewhere on the island.
Discovering Nusa Lembongan
A visit to the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival is also an opportunity to explore Nusa Lembongan itself. Located off Bali’s southeast coast in the Badung Strait, Nusa Lembongan is one of the three main Nusa Islands, together with Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida.
The island is relatively small and can easily be explored by scooter, bicycle, or on foot in many areas. Its three main communities include Jungutbatu, Lembongan Village, and Mushroom Bay.
Nusa Lembongan’s appeal comes from its combination of beautiful scenery, marine life, beaches, surfing, and traditional island culture.
Some of the highlights include:
- Quality reef breaks for surfing
- Crystal-clear tropical water
- Snorkeling and diving opportunities
- Rich coral reefs and marine life
- Dream Beach and its dramatic coastal scenery
- Devil’s Tear and its powerful waves
- Jungutbatu Beach
- Mushroom Bay
- The famous Yellow Bridge connecting Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
- The island’s traditional seaweed farming heritage
These attractions make Nusa Lembongan much more than a festival destination. You can easily combine the event with several days of sightseeing, surfing, snorkeling, diving, and relaxing by the sea.
Why September Is a Great Time for Surf Travel in Lembongan
September is an appealing month for a Nusa Lembongan surf trip. Bali’s dry season generally provides sunny weather, while seasonal wind and swell patterns can create good conditions for surfers around the island.
The festival is also positioned within Bali’s broader September events calendar, alongside cultural celebrations and festivals in other parts of the island.
For marine enthusiasts, the period around August to October is also associated with sightings of mola mola, or ocean sunfish, in the deeper waters surrounding the Nusa Islands. Sightings are never guaranteed, but this seasonal attraction adds another reason for divers and underwater enthusiasts to visit.
Combining the festival with surfing, snorkeling, or diving can therefore turn a short island visit into a more complete Bali adventure.
How to Get to Nusa Lembongan
There is no airport on Nusa Lembongan, so visitors need to travel by boat from Bali. The most convenient option for most international travelers is a fast boat from Sanur.
From Sanur: Fast boats generally take around 30–45 minutes, depending on the operator and sea conditions.
From Padang Bai: Fast boats can take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
From Kusamba: The crossing can take around 30 minutes.
If you are arriving at Ngurah Rai International Airport, allow additional time to travel from the airport to Sanur. The road journey can take approximately 30–40 minutes depending on traffic, followed by the boat crossing to Nusa Lembongan.
Because the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival takes place during a popular travel period, it is sensible to arrange your fast boat and accommodation in advance.
Explore More of the Nusa Islands
One of the advantages of visiting Nusa Lembongan is that you can easily combine your trip with the neighboring islands.
Nusa Ceningan is connected to Nusa Lembongan by the famous Yellow Bridge. The island is easy to explore by scooter and is known for attractions such as the Blue Lagoon, Secret Beach, and Mahana Point.
Nusa Penida is the largest of the three Nusa Islands and is famous for its dramatic cliffs and natural attractions. Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and the surrounding marine areas are among its best-known attractions.
Travelers with additional time can therefore create a multi-island itinerary combining the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026 with sightseeing and outdoor adventures across the Nusa Islands.
Practical Tips for the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026
If you are planning to attend the festival, a little preparation can make your trip much easier.
Confirm the exact festival dates. The 2026 festival is listed for September, but the exact dates should be confirmed through the Lembongan Surf Team’s official channels before booking non-refundable travel arrangements.
Stay on Nusa Lembongan. Staying on the island for the festival weekend allows you to enjoy both days without worrying about returning to Bali on the same evening.
Book accommodation early. Options range from simple guesthouses and homestays to boutique hotels and resorts. September is a popular period for surf and island travel.
Reserve your fast boat. Sanur is the most convenient departure point for many travelers, and boats can become busy around popular events and weekends.
Bring Indonesian Rupiah. Although many businesses accept cards or digital payments, carrying some cash is useful because ATM availability on smaller islands can be more limited than in Bali’s main tourist areas.
Respect the local surf community. If you are surfing during your visit, pay attention to local surf etiquette and conditions. Reef breaks can be challenging, particularly for inexperienced surfers.
Allow time beyond the festival. Nusa Lembongan has enough attractions to justify staying for several days. Add snorkeling, diving, beaches, the Yellow Bridge, and a trip to Nusa Ceningan to your itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026
When is the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026?
The Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026 is scheduled for September 2026, although the exact dates were listed as to be confirmed. The previous edition took place on September 6–7, 2025. Travelers should check the Lembongan Surf Team’s official channels for the confirmed 2026 schedule.
Is the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival included in the Bali 2026 calendar?
Yes. The festival is included in the Bali Provincial Government’s 2026 Calendar of Events under the September 2026 programme.
Where is the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival held?
The primary festival venue is Tanjung Ental Beach in Jungutbatu, Nusa Lembongan, Klungkung Regency, Bali. Surfing activities may also make use of the island’s surrounding reef breaks.
Who organizes the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival?
The event is organized by the Lembongan Surf Team (LST), a grassroots surfing community organization involved in local competitions and community programmes throughout the year.
What are the surfing competition divisions?
The main divisions include Masters, Open, and Grommets. The Grommets category provides a competitive platform for younger local surfers.
How do I get to Nusa Lembongan?
The easiest option for most visitors is a fast boat from Sanur Beach. The journey generally takes around 30–45 minutes, although actual crossing times can vary depending on the operator and sea conditions.
What else can I do in Nusa Lembongan during the festival?
Visitors can combine the festival with surfing, snorkeling, diving, beach visits, sightseeing around Jungutbatu and Mushroom Bay, visiting Devil’s Tear, crossing the Yellow Bridge, or taking a short trip to Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida.
Experience the Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026
The Lembongan Surf and Music Festival 2026 offers a different way to experience Bali. Instead of focusing only on major tourist attractions, the festival connects visitors with the island’s surfing culture, local community, music scene, and relaxed coastal lifestyle.
With reef breaks, beautiful beaches, clear tropical water, and easy access from Sanur, Nusa Lembongan is already an excellent destination for an island escape. Add a weekend of competitive surfing and live music, and the island becomes an even more exciting destination for surfers, adventure travelers, music lovers, and anyone looking for an authentic Bali experience.
If you are planning to visit during September 2026, keep an eye on the official festival announcements, confirm the exact dates, and book your boat and accommodation early. With a little planning, the festival can become the centerpiece of a memorable Nusa Lembongan travel itinerary combining surf, music, nature, and island life.
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