Nuanu Creative City lives up to its name as a “Creative” space, an environment intentionally built to nurture ideas, collaboration, and artistic expression across disciplines. With its unique ecosystem and commitment to cultural innovation, Nuanu continues to position itself as a dynamic hub where musicians, songwriters, and producers can create, connect, and present their work on an international stage.

Currently underway from 6–11 April 2026, the Nuanu Music Residency marks the launch of a new recurring format: a platform designed to bring together international and Indonesian artists, producers, and songwriters in Bali. This initiative is conceived as an evolving, year-round program, where each edition functions as a focused residency chapter, allowing Nuanu to continuously host new talent, build cultural momentum, and foster an ongoing pipeline of cross-border musical collaboration.

“Nuanu Creative City was built as a space where creativity is not only presented, but created, collaborated on, and shared. The Music Residency reflects exactly what ‘Creative City’ means for us as a place where international and Indonesian artists can meet, exchange ideas, and create new work together.” Said Ida Ayu Astari Prada, Brand and Communications Director of Nuanu.

The week-long camp brings together a diverse roster of talent. On the international side, artists and producers include Bapari, Keiynan Lonsdale, Caleb Tasker, Narou and Sirachi alongside the Bodega Records team — Chris Siegfried, Peter Sabbagh, Willie Blomfield, Strukki, Dante Knows, and DRIZZZ. Representing Indonesia's thriving music scene are Tenxi, Novia Bachmid, Young Lex, Nayaka, Bas Boi, Anniysa, Imelda Lizal and Suisei.

Tenxi, the rapper and producer behind viral hit "Garam & Madu" and AMI Awards 2025 winner for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Collaboration, shares his perspective on the experience, “Being part of the Nuanu Music Residency is a rare opportunity because we’re actually creating music together during the week in this environment, and Bodega moves differently — being around that energy pushes you creatively.”

The program is structured to support the full arc of the creative process, incorporating songwriting sessions, artist dinners, masterclasses, and a lot more, giving audiences online and at Nuanu a rare window into music as it is being made.

Chris Siegfried of Bodega Records reflected on the experience, "What makes this special is the environment. Nuanu has created a space where collaboration happens naturally. Writers, producers, and artists are living and working together, which leads to very organic creativity."

As the camp draws toward its close, Nuanu Creative City reaffirms its role as a natural home for cross-border artistic exchange, a place where the world's music community can gather, create, and leave with something new.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nuanu Creative City

From nearly 700 submissions across more than 80 countries, FOTO Bali Festival 2026, presented by Nuanu Creative City, announces the 36 selected artists for its second edition.

Taking place from 3 June to 12 July 2026 at Nuanu Creative City, Bali, the festival will feature works by 36 artists from 24 countries, including Akshay Mahajan (India), Alessandro Bo (Mexico), Anita Khemka & Imran Kokiloo (India), Aprillio Abdullah Akbar (Indonesia), Arhant Shrestha (Nepal), Aziziah Diah Aprilya (Indonesia), Bertha Wang (China), Ceicillia Dita (Indonesia), Charmaine de Heij (Netherlands / Suriname), Chiara Goia (Italy), Chloe Bartram (Australia), Daniela Balestrin (Brazil), Gab Mejia (Philippines), Gianluca Lanciai (Italy), Ha Dao (Vietnam), Igor Schiller (Serbia), Jiatong Lu (China), Joel Jimenez (Costa Rica), Joyantee Raina (Bangladesh), Kate Perfilieva (Russia), Keyza Widiatmika (Indonesia), Kibe Nduni (Kenya), Lars Dyrendom & Inuk Jørgensen (Denmark / Greenland), Made Virgie Avianthy (Indonesia), Martín Bollati (Argentina), Muhammad Dwiki Viansa (Indonesia), Nadège Mazars (France), Nicolás Bernal (Colombia), Primagung D. Riliananda (Indonesia), Rodrigo Illescas (Argentina), Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo (Colombia), Sean Cham (Singapore), Valeria Arendar (Argentina / Mexico), Vinit Gupta (India), Wimadetra (Indonesia), and Yuki Furusawa (Japan).

Under the theme Afterimage, the festival brings together works that explore memory, continuity, and the ways images persist beyond the moment they capture. Moving between personal narratives and broader reflections on history, identity, and collective experience, the selected projects consider how photographs continue to shape meaning over time.

“We want FOTO Bali Festival to open up a wider conversation between photographic practices from different contexts, without geographical or generational boundaries.” said Kelsang Dolma, Festival Director of FOTO Bali Festival. “The open call is central to that, allowing both emerging and established artists to enter the festival through the strength of their work and its connection to the festival’s theme. Having two curators is also important, as it brings multiple perspectives into the selection process and allows for a more layered engagement with the festival’s central idea.”

The festival is supported by Wonderful Indonesia, underscoring its growing significance within Indonesia’s wider cultural and creative landscape. Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism said, “Wonderful Indonesia supports initiatives that strengthen Indonesia’s creative ecosystem and cultural dialogue. FOTO Bali Festival 2026 represents how art, photography, and community can come together to create meaningful cultural conversations rooted in Bali.”

The final selection represents just over 5% of total submissions, reflecting a highly competitive process. Spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, the 36 selected artists reflect a wide range of approaches, from documentary and conceptual practices to interdisciplinary forms of image-making.

“The qualities and approaches reflected in these works align with what we envisioned when the theme was first introduced,” said Kurniadi Widodo, Curator of FOTO Bali Festival. “We aim to present practices that demonstrate both strong commitment and a diversity of visual languages within contemporary photography.”

Adding a curatorial perspective, Putu Sridiniari, Curator of FOTO Bali Festival shared, “In the context of Afterimage, photography does not conclude a moment—it continues to circulate and shape how we remember the world. The selected works reflect diverse approaches, yet share a common attentiveness to how images carry traces and influence our understanding of the present.”

Alongside international names, the participation of eight Indonesian artists further strengthens this dialogue by bringing local perspectives into a global conversation.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nuanu Creative City

At Nuanu Creative City, family-friendly spaces continue to be developed as part of a more open and welcoming experience for all. One example is SAMANA, Bali's largest family festival, which returns on April 3–4, 2026. Held at ProEd Global School, this event provides a weekend for hundreds of families to enjoy time together in a fun and educational atmosphere.

From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the ProEd Global School area features a variety of activities, from bouncy castles and foam parties, to drawing corners and workshops, to reptile and animal encounters. This series of activities provides a balanced play and learning experience for children in a fun and interactive setting.

"Nuanu's development has always been driven by how spaces can be used by various groups, including families. SAMANA reflects how this experience can exist naturally within a single ecosystem," said Ida Ayu Astari Prada, Brand and Communications Director of Nuanu Creative City.

Through this experience, parents can not only accompany but also directly participate in activities with their children, while the food market area and rest area provide space for parents to continue enjoying their time. This approach reflects Nuanu Creative City's concept of designing spaces that combine art, education, family, exploration, and entertainment in one integrated experience for today's families.

"We believe that family spaces should be designed to allow for natural interactions, where children can explore, and parents remain part of the experience," Prada concluded.

Through SAMANA, Nuanu Creative City once again demonstrates how a space can function not only as a place for activities, but as a meeting point that strengthens interaction and togetherness within the family.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nuanu Creative City