Volcanoes, cancelled flights and disruptions in Bali: calendar and tips (updated 27 October 2026)

As of 27 October 2026, we found no announcement of flights cancelled in Bali because of a volcano. The risk is real, though: the Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano (on Flores, several hundred kilometres away) caused dozens of flights to be cancelled at Denpasar in 2024 and 2025, and a travel blog in July 2026 placed it at alert level 3 of 4, which we could not confirm for today. Disruptions usually last a few days, not weeks. Keep a flexible return flight and follow Denpasar airport and your airline.

Situation today (27 October 2026)

UK advice (FCDO, 18 September 2026): the ministry no longer advises against all travel to Indonesia's volcanoes and will not do so for future eruptions; it adds the exclusion zones set by local authorities and reminds that eruptions are frequent. It advises following local guidance, areas to avoid and air quality. It does not name Lewotobi or Agung.
Lewotobi Laki-laki: a travel blog of 24 July 2026 reports alert level Siaga (level 3) since 12 May 2026 according to the geological agency PVMBG; this is a secondary source, not confirmed for today. Check PVMBG and Denpasar airport.
Flight precedents: about 22 international flights cancelled at Denpasar in November 2024, 7 in March 2025 and at least 32 flights in June 2025; in July 2025 the airport ran normally because ash did not reach Bali's airspace (international press).
Flights and the Middle East: the escalation has caused airspace closures and cancellations; if you transit through the Gulf, check with your airline (FCDO Indonesia, 18 September 2026).
Strikes and protests: none announced in Bali in our sources on 27 October 2026.

Calendar to the end of January 2027

Date	Event	What it means for you	Status and source
Nov. 2026 to Jan. 2027	Strike or protest affecting Bali	Nothing to report for now	None announced on 27 October
No date	Major Lewotobi eruption with ash over Bali	Denpasar flights cancelled or delayed for a few days	Permanent risk; current level not confirmed
Nov. to March	Rainy season	Heavy showers, flooded roads, landslides near Ubud, rough sea for fast boats	Usual season
24 December to 5 January	Year-end high season	Roads, beaches and airport saturated, high prices	Annual peak
About 9 March 2027 (outside the period, to be confirmed)	Nyepi, Balinese Day of Silence	Denpasar airport closed for 24 hours, empty streets, no outings; ogoh-ogoh parade the evening before	Date to be confirmed by the official Bali calendar
About 8 Feb. to 9 March 2027 (outside the period)	Ramadan (Indonesia)	Changed hours for some shops outside Hindu areas	Dates to be confirmed with the moon

Volcanoes, earthquakes and rain

Volcanoes: ash can close airspace without notice; eruptions are monitored by PVMBG, which publishes four alert levels.
Earthquakes: Indonesia lies on the Ring of Fire; no earthquake warning in the UK advice of 18 September.
Rain: from November to March, flash floods and landslides can cut roads around Ubud and the north of the island.
Scooters: roads are slippery in rain; see our safety guide.

What to do: refunds, insurance, alternatives

If your flight is cancelled: contact the airline for a new date or a refund; claim from your insurance if it covers cancellation. Keep meal and hotel receipts.
Transfer: a private driver with a car can be booked with free cancellation and adapts to flight delays.
Margin: plan a spare night in Bali before a long-haul flight, especially during a volcanic alert.

Keep your tickets, receipts and a screenshot of the announcement. For a flight, the airline must offer a refund or rerouting; the fixed compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 depends on the cause of the disruption and only applies to flights leaving the EU, or arriving in the EU with a European airline. Before booking anything non-refundable (hotel, train, excursion), read the cancellation terms.

What if you fall ill or get hurt during the trip? A disruption does not help when there is an accident. SafetyWing (bought online, for the length of the trip) covers medical costs and evacuation; it is not cancellation insurance, so read its trip-interruption terms before counting on it for a strike or a missed flight. See our travel insurance guide.

What to do safely if there is an eruption or a cancelled flight

Here is a plan B if an ash cloud grounds planes or a flight is cancelled.

A low-risk outing: best-of Ubud tour, far from active volcanoes and easy to extend by a day.
A low-risk outing: night-market food tour, an evening plan whatever your flight does.
Private transfer: private car with driver, adapts to flight delays and schedule changes.
Hotel with free cancellation: See hotels in l'aéroport Ngurah Rai (free cancellation), near the airport the night before a flight, refundable if it is postponed.

FAQ

Are flights cancelled in Bali because of a volcano right now?

None is reported in our sources as of 27 October 2026. Check Denpasar airport and your airline on the day of departure.

What is Nyepi?

It is the Balinese Day of Silence: the airport closes for 24 hours and nobody goes out. In 2027 it falls around 9 March.

Should I avoid Bali in the rainy season?

No, but expect showers, slow roads and indoor activities from November to March.

Sources checked on 27 October 2026: FCDO Indonesia (18 September 2026), Wego travel blog (24 July 2026, secondary source), international press (2024-2025). This page will be updated if an eruption affects flights.