Five Countries Visit Pasar Singapur During BIRF 2026

Singaraja — — Delegations from five countries visited Pasar Singapur at SMKN 1 Sawan in Sawan, Buleleng, on Thursday, 12 March 2026, as part of the third day programme of the Buleleng International Rhythm Festival (BIRF) 2026. The school-based market was included in the festival itinerary alongside Balinese performing arts presented to international participants.

According to coverage of the event, the visitors came from Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan and Bulgaria, and were invited to tour Pasar Singapur after watching cultural performances at SMKN 1 Sawan. The festival itself is promoted by the Buleleng administration and partner organisations as an international arts and culture event held in North Bali from 10–15 March 2026.

The report on the visit describes Pasar Singapur as a market set up by SMKN 1 Sawan, with stalls displaying cultural products for the guests. Participants walked between the stands and showed interest in the items offered, giving them direct contact with a local school environment rather than limiting their experience to formal stage shows.

Pasar Singapur at SMKN 1 Sawan

Pasar Singapur is presented as part of SMKN 1 Sawan’s activities and was used during BIRF 2026 as a venue to showcase Balinese cultural products to foreign delegations. While the available account notes the presence of stalls and products, it does not list specific vendors or detail what kinds of food, crafts or other items were sold.

The market visit illustrates how a vocational high school can serve as a cultural host for international events. SMKN 1 Sawan provided space for both performances and the market, allowing visitors to experience Balinese arts in an everyday educational setting. The Buleleng government and festival organisers have framed BIRF more broadly as a platform for cultural exchange between local communities and international participants.

Festival information published by regional authorities and partners refers to the event as the Buleleng International Rhythm Festival, an annual programme in Singaraja and wider Buleleng that brings together overseas groups and local performers. Promotional materials indicate that the 2026 edition runs over several days in March, with activities including performances, workshops and school-based encounters.

Cultural exchange and future possibilities

In reporting on the Pasar Singapur visit, RRI highlighted expectations that the market and similar school-based activities can support cultural diplomacy and open space for future cooperation in arts and education. That outlook is described as a potential direction tied to the presence of international delegations, rather than a formal agreement.

Available official and media information on BIRF 2026 emphasises its role in strengthening friendships between countries through cultural meetings, positioning Buleleng as an international cultural destination as well as a tourism area. The Pasar Singapur stop fits within that narrative by extending the programme into a local institution and everyday setting.

Public sources on BIRF 2026 do not yet provide detailed operational information about Pasar Singapur, such as its regular opening days, management structure or long-term role in future festival editions. For now, the visit by delegations from the five countries stands as one example of how the 2026 festival integrated local school-based initiatives into its international schedule.

Sources

• SingarajaNow feature on Buleleng International Rhythm Festival 2026
• Buleleng 2026 Calendar of Event (PDF)
• RRI Singaraja photo report on Pasar Singapur and BIRF 2026
• Tatkala.co feature on Buleleng International Rhythm Festival 2026
• WOFA Festivals listing for Buleleng International Rhythm Festival 2026
• RRI.co.id