Baliem Valley Festival
Papuan Highlands Cultures · Wamena, Indonesia
The festival
The Baliem Valley Festival has been gathering since 1989 in the highlands of central Papua, the Dani, Lani and Yali peoples of the Baliem Valley, near Wamena. The programme features the ancestral traditions of the highlands: reconstruction of tribal wars, traditional dances, archery and javelin competitions, pikon competitions (pawish gumbard), pig races and traditional cooked feasts in the land.
The 34th edition was scheduled for early August 2026, between the Walesi and Usilimo districts. On 8 August 2026, shots fired near the festival site injured two visitors and interrupted the demonstration, according to the regional press; the incident, which occurred in an area marked by a long-standing armed conflict, recalls that Papua remains a region with increased vigilance for travellers. Access is made by air via Jayapura, with a local guide for villages.
Good to know
Sensitive region: check the current travel notice and travel with a local guide. Edition 2026 interrupted by an incident on August 8 (two visitors injured, according to the regional press).