Bali Expat Events: A Weekly Calendar of Where Expats Meet

Bali Expat Events: A Weekly Calendar of Where Expats Meet

Quick answer: Expats in Bali meet at recurring weekly events, not one-off parties. The most reliable open meetup is Bali Friendship at Urban Folks in Seminyak: free, every Saturday at 6 PM and Sunday at 11 AM. Bahasa Indonesia classes run three afternoons a week in Canggu (IDR 50,000). The Monday quiz at The Melting Pot Saloon in Ubud is free. Pick one weekly event near where you live and go three weeks running.

Fast facts — from BaliEvents listings:

• Open weekly meetup: Bali Friendship, Urban Folks Bali, Seminyak, Saturday 6 PM and Sunday 11 AM, free
• Language classes: Bahasa Indonesia with Makanya in Canggu, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 4 – 5 PM, IDR 50,000; kids' class on Sundays at Nōre Seseh
• Quiz and trivia: Ubud on Mondays (free), Berawa every other Saturday (IDR 50,000)
• Best nights to meet residents: Monday to Thursday
• What is on this week: Bali meetups · Canggu this weekend · Ubud this weekend

The short answer: expat life in Bali runs on recurring weekly events. Canggu has language classes, trivia and DJ socials; Ubud has quiz nights, jazz dinners, improv and workshops; Seminyak has the open Bali Friendship meetup. Pick one weekly event near where you live and go three weeks running. It works faster than any app.

What expat events are on in Bali each week?

These recurring events were listed on BaliEvents on 12 October 2026. All are open to newcomers.

Beyond Trivia by Makanya runs every other Saturday at Legends Bistro in Berawa, 7 PM, IDR 50,000, in teams of three to five. Come alone and they will put you in a team. The next one listed is Saturday 24 October.

One-off events this week

• Ragebait Trivia, The Flow Bali, Pererenan, Thursday 15 October, 7 PM, IDR 50,000, teams of up to six
• Human Adaptation in the Age of AI, a free talk at Outpost Ubud Penestanan, Thursday 15 October, 5 PM
• Secret Comedy Night, 7:30 PM, IDR 225,000: Seminyak Wednesday 14 October, Ubud Thursday 15 October, Canggu Sunday 18 October

Where do expats meet in Bali?

The island has no single expat scene. It has four, split by area, and they barely overlap:

• Canggu (Berawa, Batu Bolong, Pererenan) has the largest and youngest scene: coworking, language classes, trivia, karaoke and DJ socials. New people arrive every week, so showing up alone is completely normal.
• Ubud is wellness and creative: quiz nights, jazz dinners, improv, open-stage music and workshops. The crowd skews towards people staying for months rather than weeks.
• Seminyak and Umalas are dinner-led and more settled, with couples, families and long-term residents. Bali Friendship at Urban Folks is the open door here.
• Uluwatu and the Bukit organise around surf and the sunset. The scene is tighter because the drive keeps casual visitors away.

What is the fastest way in if I arrive alone?

Go to a recurring weekly event, not a one-off:

1. Recurring events build recognition. In week two someone remembers your face; by week three you are a regular. A one-off party starts from zero every time.
2. They give you something to do. A language class, a quiz or a workshop gives you something to do besides stand holding a drink, which is the hard part of arriving alone.
3. They are cheap or free. Most of the table above costs nothing or IDR 50,000, so trying four of them costs you four evenings.
4. They are dated. You can plan around them, unlike parties announced on Instagram that move without notice.

A Bahasa class is the most useful of the lot. You meet the same people twice a week and leave able to order, bargain and talk to your landlord.

Which nights are best for expat events in Bali?

Midweek, which surprises people who expect the weekend to matter most.

• Monday to Thursday: quiz nights, language classes, jazz dinners, workshops and comedy. The rooms are smaller, the conversations are real, and most people there live here.
• Friday and Saturday: beach clubs and DJ nights. They are bigger and louder, with more visitors, and you rarely meet the same person twice.
• Sunday: the island's social anchor, with Bali Friendship in the morning, long lunches and Social Sunday at The Bali Eden.

Are Bali expat events welcoming to newcomers?

Mostly yes, with one caveat. Events built around an activity, such as a language, a quiz, a craft or a class, take in newcomers easily because the activity carries the conversation. Events built around an existing group of friends do not, however friendly each person is.

Read the listing for the signal. Words like open, all levels, newcomers welcome, community and exchange are reliable. Bali Friendship's listing says it plainly: come alone, with friends, or just passing through. Before you go, read the inclusion and etiquette guide.

How do I find this week's expat events, not last year's list?

Most "Bali expat groups" articles list venues and groups that have since closed or gone quiet, because Bali's calendar changes fast. Use dated sources:

• Area pages: Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak and Uluwatu show what is on, with the next date for each event.
• Weekly listings carry their own dates, so a listing with next week's date is still running.
• Undated Instagram posts are the biggest cause of turning up on the wrong night. If there is no date, check the venue's own page.

What about visas, work and the practical side?

Most of it gets answered informally at events, but do not take visa advice from a stranger at a networking night: the rules change, and the confident answer is often out of date. Use the meetups for introductions and official sources for the rules. Coworking events in Canggu and Ubud are the best place to meet people who deal with this professionally; see the digital nomad networking guide.

Staying longer? Baliestate's guide to visas for a long stay in Bali sets out which visa covers a 3-, 6- or 12-month stay.

Frequently asked questions

Where do expats meet in Bali?

At recurring weekly events, split by area. Canggu has language classes, trivia and DJ socials; Ubud has quiz nights, jazz dinners and workshops; Seminyak has the open Bali Friendship meetup at Urban Folks. Most people end up socialising within a ten-minute ride of where they live.

Are there expat meetups in Bali?

Yes. Bali Friendship meets at Urban Folks Bali in Seminyak every Saturday at 6 PM and Sunday at 11 AM. It is free and open to locals, expats and travellers.

How do I meet people in Bali if I arrive alone?

Choose one recurring weekly event near where you live and go three weeks in a row. A Bahasa Indonesia class, a quiz night or a workshop gives you something to do besides introduce yourself. Trivia nights such as Beyond Trivia in Berawa will put a solo player in a team.

Where can I learn Bahasa Indonesia in Bali?

Makanya runs beginner classes at Rimbun on Tuesdays and Inklusive Warung on Thursdays, and an intermediate class at Legends on Fridays, all in Canggu, 4 to 5 PM, IDR 50,000. A kids' class runs on Sundays at Nōre Seseh.

Which night of the week is best for expat events?

Monday to Thursday. Midweek events draw residents rather than holidaymakers, the rooms are smaller and the conversations last longer. Friday and Saturday belong to beach clubs and DJ nights.

Do I have to pay to join Bali expat events?

Usually not much. Bali Friendship, the Ubud quiz, the Wednesday jazz dinners and karaoke at The Capricorn are free to enter. Language classes and trivia nights are IDR 50,000.

Are there expat networking events in Bali?

Yes, mostly in Canggu and Ubud. Tribal Coworking in Pererenan runs a free mastermind on Tuesday mornings, and Outpost in Ubud hosts free talks. See networking events for digital nomads.

How BaliEvents sources this guide

BaliEvents Editorial reviews live bookable listings and recurring community calendars across Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, and Sanur. Every event, day, time and price in this guide comes from its listing on BaliEvents, read on 12 October 2026. Prices and times change; confirm them on the event page before you go.

Updated October 2026.