From beachfront malls to neighborhood supermarkets, Bali welcomes the Year of the Horse with an abundance of free Chinese New Year performances. Here is your complete schedule.
DENPASAR, Bali — The drums are already echoing through the island’s shopping atriums. The lions are awakening. And for the first time in several years, the calendar alignment is particularly generous: nearly two full weeks of free Barongsai performances across Bali’s major commercial centers, from Kuta’s beachfront to Denpasar’s bustling retail corridors.
For Bali’s Chinese Indonesian community, expatriates from across Asia, and international visitors fortunate enough to be on the island during Imlek, the 2026 Lunar New Year celebration offers an unusually rich program of lion dances, dragon performances, wushu demonstrations, and even the rare spectacle of pole dancing lions.
Best of all: every performance listed here is free of charge.
1. Living World Denpasar: The Marathon Run
Denpasar’s largest lifestyle mall has programmed an extensive 14-day run of Barongsai and wushu performances. Wushu demonstrations take place on February 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 5:00 PM in the Amphitheater—four chances to witness the disciplined athleticism of traditional Chinese martial arts.
The lion dances are divided into two formats. Floor Barongsai will roam the mall’s common areas daily from February 10 to 23, with performances at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. For those seeking higher spectacle, Table Barongsai and Liong (dragon) performances take over the Amphitheater at 6:00 PM on February 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, and 22.
2. Level 21 Mall Denpasar: Ultraviolet Dragons
The Main Atrium of Level 21 Mall hosts a concentrated three-day program. Barongsai performs on February 13 and 14 at 5:00 PM. February 15 introduces the Ultraviolet Liong—a fluorescent dragon dance designed for low-light conditions, creating a striking visual contrast against the mall’s modern architecture. A combined Barongsai and Liong performance closes the program on February 17, also at 5:00 PM.
3. Mal Bali Galeria: The Pole Edition
MBG offers perhaps the most technically demanding lion dance program this season. Traditional Barongsai performs on February 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, and 18 at 5:00 PM. But the headline attraction is Barongsai Pole (Tonggak) —a rare variation in which lions dance atop elevated poles, requiring extraordinary balance, strength, and coordination from the performers. This discipline is infrequently staged in Bali; dedicated spectators should plan accordingly.
The mall also presents Liong dragon dances on February 14, 15, 18, and 21 at 5:00 PM, followed by Wushu and Wing Chun Kungfu demonstrations on February 17 and 21 at 5:30 PM.
4. Beachwalk Kuta: Sunset Lions
There are few more cinematic settings for a lion dance than the Oasis Stage at Beachwalk, with the Indian Ocean as backdrop. Performances occur on two dates: February 17 at 4:00 PM and February 21 at 5:30 PM. Both programs include accompanying wushu demonstrations. Arrive early; this is a popular draw.
5. Discovery Mall Kuta: Samudra Stage by the Sea
Adjacent to Beachwalk, Discovery Mall offers its own beachfront viewing at the Samudra Stage. On Tuesday, February 17, beginning at 5:00 PM, the mall presents a combined program of Barongsai, dragon dance, and wushu. The timing is deliberate: the 5:00 PM start aligns with Kuta’s golden hour, positioning the lion dancers against one of Bali’s most photographed sunsets.
6. Icon Bali Mall: Fluorescent Dragons After Dark
Icon Bali, the island’s newest major retail destination, distinguishes its Imlek programming with evening appeal. On Monday, February 16 at 7:00 PM, the mall presents a Fluorescent Dragon Show—the dragon rendered in glowing color against the night atrium. A full Barongsai and dragon dance program follows on Tuesday, February 17 at 2:00 PM.
7. Tiara Dewata: Neighborhood Barongsai
For those who prefer their lion dances with grocery shopping, Tiara Dewata has scheduled performances across multiple outlets on February 12 and 13, with a final show on February 14.
Thursday, February 12:
- Tiara Monang Maning — 4:00 PM
- Tiara Dewata Soputan — 6:00 PM
Friday, February 13:
- Freshindo Sanglah — 4:00 PM
- Tiara Dewata Yeh Aya — 6:00 PM
Saturday, February 14:
- Tiara Dewata Gatsu Barat — 4:00 PM
These are the most neighborhood-scale performances on the island—intimate, accessible, and deeply integrated into local community life.
The Angpao Tradition
Every performance listed is free to attend. However, visitors should observe an important cultural protocol: the giving of angpao.
The red envelopes, containing monetary gifts, are offered not as payment but as blessing. When placed into the lion’s mouth or presented to the performers, angpao symbolizes the transfer of good fortune and the hope for prosperity in the coming year. For children in attendance, this moment of offering is often as memorable as the dance itself.
There is no prescribed amount. The gesture matters more than the sum.
A Note on Attendance
Barongsai in Bali occupies an unusual cultural space. It is at once a religious expression, a community celebration, and a commercial attraction. The lions that dance through Living World’s corridors and leap across MBG’s poles are performing acts of blessing for the businesses they visit—cleansing spaces of negative energy and inviting prosperity for the year ahead.
For international visitors, this layered meaning deserves recognition. The performances are free, but they are not merely entertainment. They are rituals made public.
Come early. Find your vantage point. Prepare small bills for angpao if you wish to participate. And when the drums quicken and the lion’s eyes blink awake, remember that you are watching not just a dance, but a thousand-year tradition finding new expression on an island famous for its own.
All schedules are based on information provided by the respective venues and are subject to change. Hey Bali News recommends confirming performance times directly with mall information centers before traveling, particularly for outdoor venues susceptible to weather.
