JEGEG BAGUS BALI ASKED TO STRENGTHEN THE PROMOTION AND REPUTATION OF BALI TOURISM

Nine pairs of finalists competed for the prestigious Jegeg Bagus Bali title at the Grand Final of the 2026 Jegeg Bagus Bali Selection, held on Friday (7 August) at the Ardha Candra Open Stage, Taman Budaya Bali.

In a speech delivered by Tjok. Bagus Pemayun, Special Advisor to the Governor of Bali for Legal, Political and Government Affairs, the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster emphasized that Bali’s tourism development must continue to be directed toward tourism that is culture-based, quality-driven, and dignified.

Creating the theme “Prananing Atma Raksa: Sanctuary of the Living Soul,” the 2026 Jegeg Bagus Bali Selection conveys an important message about preserving the nobility of the soul, cultural identity, traditional values, and balance in life as the foundation for sustainable tourism development in Bali.

According to Governor of Bali, Koster, the theme is in line with Bali’s development vision, “Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali dalam Bali Era Baru,” which places the sanctity and harmony of Bali’s nature and all its contents as the foundation for creating a prosperous and happy society, both spiritually and materially.

“In the context of tourism development, the Bali Provincial Government remains committed to realizing tourism that is culture-based, quality-driven, and dignified,” said the Governor of Bali, Koster.

He emphasized that tourism development should not focus merely on increasing tourist arrivals. More importantly, tourism must provide meaningful and quality experiences for visitors while preserving Balinese culture, protecting the environment, improving the welfare of local communities, and maintaining reputation and dignity of Bali on the International level.

The Governor of Bali, Koster also highlighted the importance of high-quality human resources as one of the key foundations for the sustainability of Bali’s tourism industry. He said that the natural beauty of Bali must be supported by younger generations with strong character, cultural awareness, integrity, and a global outlook.

In this context, Jegeg Bagus Baliplays a strategic role in strengthening the promotion and reputation of Bali tourism. The representatives are expected not only to be intelligent and knowledgeable figures, but also to remain deeply rooted in Balinese local wisdom and cultural values.

To all finalists, the Governor of Bali, Koster conveyed a message that the Jegeg Bagus Bali Selection should not merely be seen as a personal achievement, however, as a starting point for dedicating themselves and making meaningful contributions to Bali.

“Make this event the starting point of your dedication, not merely an achievement for yourselves. Be role models for other young people, continue to learn, create, and contribute to a better and more noble Bali,” the Governor of Bali, Koster said.

The selection process for the Jegeg Bagus Bali (JBB) competition was previously conducted across all regencies and the city of Denpasar. The finalists who competed in the Grand Final represented the best Jegeg and Bagus from across Bali.

This year, the representatives of Denpasar City were crowned Jegeg Bagus Bali 2026:

 Jegeg: Ni Nyoman Inggi Indrayani Kendran
Bagus: Kadek Refan Resepiyan Artadhi

1st Runner-Up:
 Jegeg: Ni Komang Yunita Purnama Sari – Gianyar
 Bagus: Ida Bagus Girindra Yogananta – Karangasem

2nd Runner-Up:

 Jegeg: Ni Komang Vira Ananda Putri – Jembrana
Bagus: Gede Raditya Harischandra Kusa – Buleleng