Bali is fun run central this year! Anyone who is looking to see the best of Bali’s natural landscapes and heritage villages, as well as stay for a while, and meet new people, will find a whole new side of Bali waiting to greet them.
Bali is best known for its fly and flop beach vacations, but in 2026, it seems everyone and their Mum is flying in, lacing up, and hitting the running trail.
Bali’s Penglipuran Village will be hosting the Penglipuran-Run 2026 on 7th June and is expecting 500 people to join in the action. With registration now open, tourists set to be in Bali on the 7th June should snap up their race tickets now, as here at The Bali Sun, we have a sneaky suspicion that the event will sell out.
Penglipuran Village is the most famous tourist village in Bali, and was catapulted to international fame when it won the UN World Tourism Organization’s Best Tourism Village in the World. Speaking to reporters, Wayan Sumiarsa, Head of Penglipuran Tourism Village Management, shared a little more about what participants can expect from the big day.
He shared, “Until now, Penglipuran Village has been known as a cultural and environmental destination. In the future, we want to add value to Penglipuran as a wellness tourism destination. This is indeed a sporting event, but it is geared towards wellness.”
He confirmed that the race will be a 5km community-oriented race, with only a sprinkle of competitiveness. The aim of the event is to bring a new crowd of visitors to the village, including local runners, visitors from across Indonesia, and international tourists.
Sumiarsa continued, “Participants are not only invited to exercise, but also to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and unique culture of Penglipuran Village. The route starts from the south at the hero’s monument, goes around the village and enters the bamboo forest, and finally returns to the relief area of the main tourist village.”
Fun runs, run clubs, marathons, and trail running are having a moment in Bali right now. With ares like Canggu and Uluwatu booming in popularity in terms of run clubs, local leaders are seeing the trend and hoping to build on the momentum.
Even the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) is giving its backing to more running events as an opportunity to enhance the function of conservation areas, raise awareness, and generate funds.
Speaking to reporters, Ratna Hendratmoko, Head of the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), shared, “Tourism is something we must support in Bali, and conservation areas are not just prohibited; nature tourism parks can be utilized according to their designated use.”
The Mount Batur Geopark will once again play host to sections of the Bali Ultra, the ultra-marathon trail event that has grown in popularity over the last seven years.
Hendratmoko shared his support for the Bali Ultra organizers, the Bali Trail Running (BTR) association. The ultra marathon, which takes place around the Mount Batur Bukit Payang Nature Tourism Park, is a 100 km route that must be completed within 34 hours.
He shared how trial running can be a way to help raise awareness of protected landscapes and enable the public to access these spaces in a sustainable and respectful way. The Bali Ultra event also hosts a 7km, 18km route, 30km route, and 60km race, all of which will be held over 15th-17th May 2026.
Hendratmoko explained, “I think conservation areas, both protected and conservation forests, must be able to adapt their management to this lifestyle and how we can adapt to regulations. We shouldn’t make it seem like we’re selling off areas when they’re actually designated for their intended use.”
Other fun run events that tourists can get involved with in Bali over the next couple of months include the Jatilwuih Fun Run, which will take place on the 20th June 2026, and the Bali Culture Run, which will be hosted in Nusa Dua on the 26th July 2026.
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