Bali Tourism in 2026 So Far: Arrivals, Australians and Stays

Bali welcomed 4,586,959 international visitors between January and August 2026, about 1.6 per cent fewer than in the same months of 2025, according to the provincial statistics office (BPS Bali). Australians are still by far the largest group. For people who live on the island or own a home here, the more useful story is in the details: when visitors come, how long they stay, and where they sleep.

A slower first half, then a recovery

The year started flat. First-quarter arrivals reached 1,466,546, up just 1.04 per cent on 2025. From March to June, monthly numbers fell below the previous year. BPS Bali head Agus Gede Hendrayana Hermawan linked the dip to conflict and flight cancellations. The Jakarta Post reported in May that several Gulf states had temporarily closed their airspace during the United States–Israeli war with Iran, cancelling hundreds of flights on routes to Indonesia. Many European and American visitors normally connect through those Gulf hubs.

Arrivals picked up in mid-year. July brought 697,809 visitors, up 0.10 per cent on July 2025, and August 685,994, up 0.46 per cent year on year. Those small gains were not enough to close the gap from earlier months.

*Source: BPS Bali, as reported by Antara and Bali Post. September figures are due in early November.*

For context, 2025 was a record year, with 6,948,754 international arrivals, up 9.72 per cent on 2024. The Bali Tourism Agency has set a 2026 target of 6.625 million. Simple arithmetic shows that hitting it would need about 2.04 million arrivals from September to December. That is roughly 510,000 a month, below the pace of July and August.

Australia: still about one in four visitors

Australia supplied 1,138,634 visitors from January to August 2026, about a quarter of the total. In 2025 the Australian share was 23.44 per cent.

The share moves with Australian school holidays. Australian passport holders made up 25.01 per cent of arrivals in July (174,539 people). In August they made up 23.51 per cent (161,258), a 7.61 per cent drop from July once school went back.

Behind Australia, the January–August ranking was China (401,762), India (352,510), the United Kingdom (202,759) and South Korea (191,386). August had a surprise: French arrivals rose 20.42 per cent from July to 41,937, overtaking India for third place that month. The Bali Tourism Office linked this to the European summer break.

The provincial tourism agency said in March that it would focus more on nearby markets such as Australia. The aim is to rely less on long-haul routes that pass through the Middle East.

Stays are getting shorter, and spreading out

BPS measures length of stay in registered accommodation. In August 2026 the average guest in a star-rated hotel stayed 2.77 nights, down from 2.83 in July and 0.14 nights shorter than in August 2025. Foreign guests stayed a little longer (2.93 nights) than Indonesian guests (2.46 nights). In non-star accommodation the average fell to 2.15 nights, from 2.53 a year earlier.

These are nights per booking, not total days in Bali. Many visitors split a trip across several places. Even so, the trend points to shorter, more mobile stays.

Occupancy tells a similar story. Star hotels filled 68.19 per cent of rooms in August 2026, down from 69.54 per cent a year earlier. Non-star accommodation, which includes many villas and guesthouses, filled 43.16 per cent, down from 50.26 per cent. Industry groups put part of that gap down to the rise of unlicensed rentals, which the government is now trying to bring into the licensing system.

What this means if you live here or own a home

Expect the familiar rhythm. July and August, and the year-end holidays, are the busiest months. They bring more traffic in the south and fuller beaches and restaurants. The quieter months are a good time for appointments, renovations and family visits.

Australia remains the anchor. Australians are the largest and steadiest group of visitors. Airlines keep adding Australian routes, which helps residents and owners who travel back and forth.

Quality over quantity. The provincial government is talking more about visitor quality than headcount. It is also tightening rules on levies and licensing. Expect more checks, not fewer.

Numbers are not a forecast. Monthly figures move with school calendars, airfares and events far from Bali. For any decision about a property, speak to an independent adviser rather than reading too much into a single month.

What this means for Valora Sanur

The figures show a steady but changing island: still busy, but with visitors who move around more and stay in each place for less time. For people who actually live in Bali, the more important question is how a home works on an ordinary Tuesday. At Valora Sanur, nine private villas sit behind one gate on Jl. Bumi Ayu, with 24-hour security. Each villa has a master bedroom on the ground floor near the entrance and a step-free path from the gate into the villa. Sanur Beach is 1.8 km away and Ngurah Rai airport about 30 minutes by toll road. You are welcome to visit the marketing gallery on site, open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, or contact the team at atrea.id.

Sources