A Design Gathering in Bali Among Pine Trees, Mangroves and the Sea
With a new beachfront venue in Sanur, Jia Curated expands its programme, bringing architecture, craft and design into closer conversation with Bali’s coastal landscape
Returning for its fifth edition, Jia Curated enters a new chapter with a beachfront setting and an expanded programme. Running from 13–17 August 2026 on the shores of Pengembak Beach in Sanur, Bali, the event unfolds among pine trees and mangroves, with exhibitions, installations and performances presented in direct conversation with the landscape.
That setting is central to this year’s theme, Nature Weave, which considers the often invisible connections between people, materials and natural systems with the participation of more than 250 participating local and international brands.
Among the standout presentations is Architecture in Scale, which returns following its successful debut in 2025. Curated by design author and editor Charmaine Chan, the exhibition gathers architectural maquettes from architects including Andra Matin, Bill Bensley and Kengo Kuma, revealing how design across the region works with climate, craft traditions and site-specific construction methods.
Regional exchange is another key focus. This year’s spotlight is on the Philippines via Tomorrow, a curated exhibition led by Gabriel Lichauco of Newfolk, bringing together Filipino designers and craft workshops to explore indigenous knowledge and new ways of reconnecting with our surroundings.
The 2026 edition also introduces Project Benih, a new cross-cultural initiative by Jia Curated linking designers from Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan with Indonesian artisans and manufacturers. Drawing from the Indonesian word for seed, the project is designed as a long-term collaborative platform to nurture shared learning and creative relationships across Asia Pacific.
The event’s growing role as a meeting point for design in Asia is further reflected in the return of the 360° Design Dialogues. Curated and hosted by Design Anthology, the programme returns for a third edition, bringing together figures including Bethan Laura Wood, Peter Stutchbury, Fiona Lynch, Kwangho Lee, Cheng Tsung Feng and Gabriel Tan for conversations on design entrepreneurship, material culture and the increasingly fluid role of the architect and designer today.
As evening falls, live music and cultural performances will animate the waterfront, extending the design event into a broader celebration of creative exchange, where design, craft and community are woven together within a living landscape.
Images by Priska Joanne and Indra Wiras
