Full Moon & New Moon Events in Bali
Bali runs two lunar calendars at once — Purnama and Tilem temple days, and the expat circuit of moon circles and full-moon parties. How to tell them apart.
Full Moon & New Moon Events in Bali (2026)
Quick answer: BaliEvents currently lists 91 events in Bali, 39 of them free or guest-list entry, and Saturday is the busiest night in our listings. This guide covers what is worth planning around and links straight through to dated listings you can book.
Fast facts — Bali-wide, from BaliEvents listings on 9 October 2026:
- Events listed: 91
- Free or guest-list entry: 39
- Paid entry or ticketed: 52
- Recurring weekly or daily: 47
- Busiest night in our listings: Saturday
- Most common formats: party (36), meetup (21), wellness (9)
- Most booked venues: Savaya, The Bali Eden, Bali Beans Coffee & Co.
- Book online on BaliEvents: The Bali Eden · Beat Boat
- Check what is on: Bali events this week
Bali has two lunar scenes running at the same time and they are not the same thing. Purnama (full moon) and Tilem (new moon) are Balinese Hindu temple days observed island-wide by the local community. Separately, the expat and traveller scene runs moon circles, cacao ceremonies, and full moon parties. Knowing which one you are attending changes how you dress, behave, and plan the day.
Browse live listings on BaliEvents and filter by date, area, and category.
What are Purnama and Tilem?
Purnama is the full moon day and Tilem is the new moon day in the Balinese calendar. Both are significant temple days when Balinese Hindus make offerings and visit temples, often in full ceremonial dress.
What you will notice as a visitor:
- More traffic around temples, especially in the morning and early evening
- Widespread ceremonial dress — sarong, sash, white or bright temple clothing
- Larger and more elaborate offerings (canang sari) than usual
- Some businesses run reduced hours, particularly Balinese-owned ones
These are religious observances, not tourist events. They happen whether or not anyone is watching.
Can visitors attend Purnama temple ceremonies?
Often yes, with real conditions attached. Many temples welcome respectful visitors on ceremony days, but this is participation in someone's religious practice, not sightseeing.
The rules that matter:
- Sarong and sash are mandatory, not optional. Many temples lend them; do not rely on it.
- Cover shoulders. Applies to everyone.
- Do not stand or sit higher than the priest, and never with your back to the shrine while people are praying.
- Menstruating women are traditionally asked not to enter temple grounds. This is a genuine and consistently applied rule in Bali, not a formality.
- Ask before photographing people. Praying is not a photo opportunity.
- Do not walk in front of people who are praying.
If you are unsure, going with a Balinese host or a guide is worth far more than reading another guide. Read our cultural festivals guide for the wider ceremonial calendar.
What are moon circles and how do they differ?
Moon circles are part of the wellness scene rather than Balinese religion, and are concentrated in Ubud, with some in Canggu and Pererenan.
Typical formats:
- New moon circles — intention setting, journalling, often cacao. Quieter and more inward.
- Full moon circles — release and celebration, often with sound healing, breathwork, or ecstatic dance.
- Cacao ceremonies — ceremonial cacao, sharing circle, movement or meditation.
- Women's circles — many moon circles are women-only; check before booking.
These are usually two to three hours, fixed fee or by donation, and capped at small group sizes so they book out. They draw on a mix of traditions and are not Balinese Hindu practice — worth knowing so you can set expectations accurately.
Are there full moon parties in Bali like in Thailand?
No, and this is a common misunderstanding. Bali has no equivalent of the Koh Phangan full moon party — no mass beach rave on a fixed lunar schedule.
What Bali has instead:
- Beach clubs and venues running themed full moon nights, which are regular club nights with a lunar name
- Occasional jungle and cliff parties timed to the moon, promoted at short notice
- Sunset-to-late sessions that happen to fall on a full moon
If you arrived expecting the Thai format, recalibrate. Bali's nightlife runs on a weekly rhythm and a venue circuit, not a lunar one.
How do you find the Purnama and Tilem dates?
Both follow the Balinese pawukon and saka calendar systems, which do not map neatly onto Gregorian months, so they shift year to year.
Practical approach:
- A Balinese calendar (widely sold locally, and available online) marks Purnama and Tilem clearly
- Your accommodation host will always know — Balinese staff plan around these days
- Wellness venues publish moon circle dates two to four weeks ahead
If you are planning temple visits, checking the date in advance matters. Arriving at a major temple on Purnama without a sarong is a wasted trip.
What should you avoid doing on temple days?
- Do not plan a heavy drinking night that ends near a temple at prayer time
- Do not wear beachwear anywhere near ceremony areas
- Do not fly drones over ceremonies — this causes real offence and is increasingly enforced
- Do not treat a procession as a parade laid on for visitors
- Do not block roads to photograph; processions have right of way and the courteous thing is to pull over and wait
The general principle: on these days, the island is doing something that has nothing to do with tourism. Stepping back is the correct default.
Related guides
- Cultural festivals & ceremonies
- Galungan & Kuningan for visitors
- Nyepi day explained
- Ecstatic dance at The Bali Eden
How BaliEvents sources this guide
BaliEvents Editorial reviews live bookable listings and recurring community calendars across Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Sanur, and the surrounding areas. We prioritise dated, confirmable events over undated social posts. Prices, door policies, and start times change often in Bali — confirm the current details on the event page before you travel.
FAQ
How many events like this are on in Bali right now?
The fast facts at the top of this guide carry the current count, refreshed from BaliEvents listings every week, including how many repeat weekly or daily. Open the live calendar to see the dated ones.
Do I need to book ahead?
Often not: a good share of listings are free or guest-list entry (the fast facts above give the current split), and those need nothing more than turning up on time. Ticketed events, dinners and small workshops do sell out — check the listing, since each one states whether it takes bookings.
What is the best night of the week for this in Bali?
The fast facts above name the night with the most listings right now. Midweek is quieter and usually better for meeting people; weekends are denser but busier at the door.
Is this guide kept up to date?
Yes. The listing counts above are regenerated from the BaliEvents database, and the guidance is reviewed each month. Always confirm the next occurrence on the event page before you travel across the island for it.
Updated October 2026.
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About BaliEvents.co
BaliEvents.co is a Bali-based event discovery platform. We work directly with venues and local organizers. Guest lists managed by BaliEvents.co. Events submitted and verified by our local team in Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, and Ubud.
This article has been reviewed and verified by the BaliEvents Editorial Team for accuracy and quality.
