Nyepi 2026: How Many Hours Is DPS Ngurah Rai Closed? Flight Timeline Before & After (March 19)

At a glance: Nyepi 2026 = Thursday March 19, DPS closed 24 hours

Nyepi 2026 falls on Thursday March 19 (Saka 1948, per joint decree of Ministry of Religious Affairs / Ministry of Manpower / Ministry of Administrative Reform). Ngurah Rai (DPS) closes 24 hours from 06:00 WITA Thursday March 19, 2026 to 06:00 WITA Friday March 20, 2026 — no domestic or international flight operations, no landing/take-off slots, no ground handling. Safe last flight: Wednesday March 18 night before 23:00 WITA (taxi slot margin). First flight after re-open: Friday March 20 starting 06:30 WITA. Passengers with tickets caught on March 19 are entitled to free reschedule from all major airlines (Garuda, AirAsia, Lion, Batik, Scoot, Jetstar, SQ). Alternative if urgent: fly via Lombok (LOP) or Surabaya (SUB) — normal operations on Nyepi-day.

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Respect note: Nyepi isn’t an inconvenience, it’s a sacred Hindu holy day

Before we cover the timeline, one thing travel blogs often skip: Nyepi is the Saka New Year Holy Day for Balinese Hindus, not just “airport closed”. Catur Brata Penyepian (four restraints: amati geni / no fire, amati karya / no work, amati lelungan / no travel, amati lelanguan / no entertainment) is observed by most Bali residents — including transplants who live in Bali. The airport closure is not bureaucratic — it’s a Bali Provincial Government regulation (Pergub) protecting religious observance. Backpackers flying from/to DPS need to plan around it with respect — not workaround.

If you genuinely have to fly March 19, 2026 (real emergency, e.g., family situation), use the LOP or SUB routing; if it can be postponed, postpone. Bali locals don’t expect compromise from visitors — but basic respect that this holy day is sacred is enough to shift your schedule.

Official rules: where the 24-hour closure comes from

Regulatory sources:

1. Bali Provincial Government — Pergub on Nyepi observance regulates 24-hour public activity restrictions across all of Bali, including international airport operations. Annual details released via Diskominfo Bali and Disparda Bali (disparda.baliprov.go.id).

2. Angkasa Pura I (DPS Ngurah Rai operator) — Issues annual press release confirming 24-hour closure schedule, usually 4-6 weeks before Nyepi. Check angkasapura1.co.id newsroom section, or official IG @ngurahrai_ap1.

3. Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) — Directorate General of Civil Aviation issues a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) before Nyepi notifying global flight operators of DPS closure. This NOTAM is what triggers all airlines (domestic + international) to automatically reschedule — not per-airline decision. Updates at hubud.dephub.go.id.

4. Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) — Sets the Nyepi date (Saka Holy Day) via joint National Holiday Decree released by Kemenag with Kemenaker and Kemen-PANRB (kemenag.go.id). Nyepi 2026 (Saka 1948) = Thursday March 19, 2026 per the 2026 joint decree.

Underlining the regulatory chain matters: DPS closure is not Angkasa Pura I’s initiative alone, but a consequence of Bali Pergub + Kemenhub NOTAM. Airlines have no authority to open Nyepi-day slots — once NOTAM is issued, no landing/take-off slots exist at DPS for those 24 hours.

Operational timeline: from Wednesday March 18 evening to Friday March 20 morning

Wednesday March 18, 2026 (Nyepi minus 1):

• Normal operations until around 22:00 WITA
• Safest last take-off slot: 23:00 WITA, since aircraft need taxi + climb-out time before 06:00 Thursday
• Airlines typically stop ticket sales for departures after 23:00 March 18 several weeks in advance

Thursday March 19, 2026 (Nyepi):

• 06:00 WITA: closure starts. NOTAM active. No landings, no take-offs
• Terminal empty — minimal staff for security + maintenance only
• No services: ground handling, check-in, baggage, F&B airside
• Sound-light minimization: lights dimmed, PA system off (honoring amati geni + amati sound)

Friday March 20, 2026 (Ngembak Geni):

• 06:00 WITA: re-open. NOTAM closure expired
• First commercial flight: around 06:30-07:00 WITA (usually AirAsia / Lion domestic first; international Scoot / Jetstar / AirAsia follows from 08:00)
• Normal operations throughout the day

AP I operator note: Re-opening typically has a 30-60 minute mini-delay versus published schedule, since ground crew + ATC need full-startup after 24 hours idle. Plan buffer if you’ve booked first flight Friday — safer to pick 09:00+ flight for connection margin.

Safe last flight before Nyepi: per-airline table

Based on schedule tracking February-April 2026 and Nyepi 2025 precedent, the latest slots typically sold for DPS departure:

Must verify: Definitive schedules only announced 4-6 weeks before Nyepi by AP I + airlines. Check airline-direct (airasia.com, garuda-indonesia.com, flyscoot.com) or via Aviasales search for real-time accuracy. Table above shows historical pattern 2024-2025 — definitive pricing and slots for March 18 2026 will finalize around February 2026.

First flight after Nyepi: per-airline table

Earliest slots typically sold Friday March 20, 2026:

Buffer tip: Pick Friday flight ≥09:00 to mitigate re-opening mini-delay risk. Tight international connections (e.g., DPS-SIN connect SIN-NRT within 2 hours transit) — avoid Friday March 20 morning if you can. If you must, pick Friday afternoon (12:00+) when operations are definitely steady.

Which airlines auto-reschedule? Refund policy

Auto-reschedule (all major airlines): Because Kemenhub NOTAM is official regulation (not airline force majeure), all major airlines apply free reschedule policy for tickets with March 19, 2026 departure from/to DPS.

Per-airline reschedule patterns (based on 2024-2025 precedent; verify policy updates for Nyepi 2026):

• Garuda Indonesia — Auto-reschedule to nearest slot (usually Wed Mar 18 or Fri Mar 20). Full refund if passenger refuses reschedule. Process via call center 0804-1-807-807 or form at garuda-indonesia.com.

• Indonesia AirAsia / Thai AirAsia — Auto-reschedule via AirAsia MOVE app or airasia.com. If passenger wants cash refund (not AirAsia Credit), submit refund form — process 30-90 business days. Credit refund instant. Check airasia.com section “Schedule Change & Refund”.

• Lion Air / Batik Air — Reschedule via website or call 021-6379-8000. Lion Group usually gives reschedule options to H-1 / H+1 or to alternative airport (SUB) at no extra cost; cash refund via standard procedure.

• Scoot — Auto-reschedule notification via email/SMS. Passenger can choose: (a) accept reschedule to nearest slot, (b) full refund to original payment card/account, (c) Scoot Travel Voucher with 10-15% extra value. Process via flyscoot.com Manage My Booking.

• Jetstar — Free reschedule to nearest flight within 7 days before/after original date. Cash refund or Jetstar Credit. Check jetstar.com section “Disruptions”.

• Singapore Airlines / SilkAir — Most generous premium carrier policy: auto-reschedule + alternative-airport option (LOP or SUB) free, or full refund. SQ hub has KrisFlyer 24/7 support.

When to check policy? Ideally 3-4 weeks before Nyepi date — when AP I + airlines release schedule confirmation. If you booked 6+ months in advance and just realized you’re caught on Nyepi, don’t panic — all major airlines must accommodate reschedule per NOTAM.

Refund vs reschedule, which to pick? Default should be reschedule to nearest slot (H-1 or H+1) — refund process takes 30-90 days + risk new pricing being more expensive if you rebook. Refund worth it if your trip plan changed entirely.

How to reroute when Nyepi is close: alternative airports

If you must fly on March 19, 2026 (urgent, family emergency, or work schedule), there are two operational alternatives on Nyepi-day:

Lombok (LOP) — Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport

LOP remains operational during Nyepi — Bali Pergub 24-hour closure applies specifically to Bali administrative territory, not NTB. Typical schedule on Nyepi-day:

• DPS-LOP alternative: You can’t fly from DPS Nyepi-day (DPS closed), but if you’re in Bali pre-Nyepi, you can reach LOP via Padangbai-Lembar ferry (4-5 hour crossing) on H-1, then fly from LOP Nyepi-day. Ferry port remains operational H-1 Nyepi but reduced schedule from 18:00.
• Popular routes from LOP: LOP-CGK (Lion/Batik/Citilink), LOP-SUB (Lion), LOP-KUL (AirAsia limited frequency), LOP-SIN (limited; check schedule).
• Distance note: LOP to Mataram city ~20 minutes; from Bali (Sanur/Kuta) total journey ~6-8 hours including ferry. Not feasible for same-day departure on Nyepi-day if you’re in Bali.

Surabaya (SUB) — Juanda T2 Airport

SUB remains operational during Nyepi (East Java not subject to Bali Pergub). Pattern:

• Access from Bali: No feasible same-day option (driving Bali-SUB = 15-20 hours including Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry). Must position in East Java H-1 if you want to fly from SUB on Nyepi-day.
• Popular routes from SUB: SUB-KUL (AirAsia/Batik), SUB-SIN (Scoot/Jetstar/Garuda/SQ), SUB-BKK (Thai AirAsia limited), SUB-HKG (Cathay), SUB-JED (Garuda/Saudia umrah charter).
• Strategy: If planning Bangkok or Singapore on Nyepi-day, reroute pre-Nyepi to SUB via DPS-SUB domestic flight March 17 (H-2), overnight in Surabaya, fly international March 19 from SUB.

Banyuwangi (BWX) — closest land-route option

BWX (Banyuwangi International Airport) is only 1-2 hours ferry + driving from Bali (via Gilimanuk-Ketapang). BWX operates normally Nyepi-day but international routes are limited (BWX-KUL has limited frequency; mostly domestic BWX-CGK/SUB). Suitable if your destination is domestic (Jakarta/Surabaya) and you urgently need to leave Bali.

Honest take: Reroute via alternative airport (LOP/SUB/BWX) is only feasible if you’ve positioned outside Bali pre-Nyepi or have margin for 6-12 hours of land travel. For most travelers, reschedule to H-1 or H+1 is more practical than rerouting via alternative airport last-minute.

How to secure your booking: 3 backpacker strategies

Based on Nyepi 2025 tracking and 2024 precedent:

Strategy 1 — Departure H-1 (Wednesday March 18, 2026) evening: Fly out DPS March 18 between 18:00-22:30. Safe, slots usually available, and you skip the gradually-winding-down airport atmosphere. Pricing usually +5-10% premium vs mid-week non-Nyepi rate due to demand spike.

Strategy 2 — Departure H+1 (Friday March 20, 2026) afternoon: Fly out DPS March 20 12:00+ (skip re-opening mini-delay risk). You can still enjoy Bali on Ngembak Geni morning — culturally fascinating, post-Nyepi peaceful atmosphere before activity resumes normally. Pricing usually mid-cycle, sometimes slightly cheaper than H-1.

Strategy 3 — Skip Nyepi window entirely: Plan your trip outside March 17-21, 2026. Best months for DPS outbound remain May and September per fare-history from our multi-stop article. If targeting Bangkok or Singapore, shift trip to late March or early April (post-Nyepi, pre-Songkran).

What NOT to do:

• Booking departure on March 19, 2026 — pricing sometimes sticks in airline systems forgetting to update; if booked, mandatory auto-reschedule by airline (you can’t fly Nyepi-day). Avoid confusion by not booking that date at all.
• Last-minute reroute if you realize at H-7 — LOP/SUB Nyepi-day slots are usually full-booked from prior years, pricing spikes.

FAQ (Q-badge cards)

What date exactly is Nyepi 2026?

Thursday March 19, 2026, per Ministry of Religious Affairs RI decree and 2026 National Holiday joint decree. Nyepi is Saka New Year 1948 in the Balinese Hindu calendar. DPS Ngurah Rai airport closure applies 06:00 WITA Thursday March 19 to 06:00 WITA Friday March 20, 2026 (full 24 hours). Official confirmation at kemenag.go.id and disparda.baliprov.go.id.

How many hours is DPS closed during Nyepi?

Full 24 hours from 06:00 WITA Thursday March 19 to 06:00 WITA Friday March 20, 2026. No domestic or international flight operations during this window. Closure is set via Bali Pergub + Kemenhub NOTAM — all airlines must comply, no exceptions. Check angkasapura1.co.id for official press release.

My ticket is already booked for March 19, 2026, what do I do?

Airline mandatory auto-reschedule because NOTAM is regulatory, not airline force majeure. You’ll get notification (email/SMS) from airline 4-6 weeks before Nyepi with options: (a) accept reschedule to H-1 or H+1, (b) full refund to original payment, (c) travel credit/voucher. Garuda, AirAsia, Lion, Scoot, Jetstar, SQ all have this policy. If you haven’t received notification by H-4 weeks, contact airline customer service directly.

Can I fly from alternative airports (LOP or SUB) during Nyepi?

Yes, but feasible only if you’ve positioned outside Bali pre-Nyepi. LOP (Lombok) and SUB (Surabaya) operate normally during Nyepi as they’re not Bali territory. Access from Bali: LOP needs Padangbai-Lembar ferry 4-5 hours (H-1, ferry runs until afternoon); SUB needs 15-20 hours land travel (Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry + drive East Java). No feasible same-day option from Bali on Nyepi-day. BWX (Banyuwangi) is the closest 1-2 hours from Bali but international routes are limited.

Are domestic flights DPS-CGK also closed during Nyepi?

Yes, also closed. DPS Ngurah Rai 24-hour closure applies to all operations — domestic and international. Garuda, Lion, Batik, Citilink, AirAsia, Pelita all suspend DPS operations on Nyepi-day. Last domestic flight pre-Nyepi: Wednesday March 18 evening. First domestic flight post-Nyepi: Friday March 20 morning.

If I’m in Bali during Nyepi and missed H-1 flight, any emergency options?

Realistically: no emergency flights on Nyepi-day. Closure stays in effect. Options: (a) try Lombok ferry H-1 afternoon (last 17:00), then fly from LOP Nyepi-day, (b) drive to BWX/SUB land H-1 (very long, must depart H-1 morning). For medical emergencies, special airport protocol exists (helicopter medevac from hospitals) — but this isn’t for regular passengers. Avoid this scenario with H-1 departure or H+1 planning.

International flights transiting DPS during Nyepi — what happens?

Suspended. All flights scheduled to land/transit at DPS during the 06:00 March 19 - 06:00 March 20, 2026 window will be diverted, rescheduled, or cancelled by the airline. Passengers will be notified directly by their airline. International carriers (Cathay, Qatar, Emirates, SQ, AirAsia network) are all aware of the annual Nyepi-day closure pattern — their schedules are usually pre-adjusted for Nyepi 2026.

Disclaimer (operations + reschedule)

Operational schedule: The 24-hour closure schedule is set by the Bali Provincial Government and officially announced by Angkasa Pura I + Kemenhub via NOTAM. Confirm official schedule 4-6 weeks before Nyepi at angkasapura1.co.id newsroom and disparda.baliprov.go.id advisory. Last-flight and first-flight slots can shift 30-60 minutes from this article’s table estimates.

Reschedule policy: Airline reschedule policies can update annually. Verify directly at airline-direct sites (garuda-indonesia.com, airasia.com, lionair.co.id, flyscoot.com, jetstar.com, singaporeair.com) or call customer service 7-14 days before Nyepi date.

Nyepi date: Per joint decree of Kemenag/Kemenaker/Kemen-PANRB 2026, Nyepi 2026 (Saka 1948) = Thursday March 19, 2026. Confirm at kemenag.go.id national holiday section.

CTA — check live alternative-route fares

• DPS to Bangkok live (re-schedule H-1 / H+1) → /go/dps-bkk/
• DPS to Singapore live → /go/dps-sin/
• SUB to Bangkok / Singapore (alternative routing from East Java) → /go/sub-bkk/
• LOP to Kuala Lumpur / Singapore (Lombok alternative) → /go/lop-kul/

Check live fares on Aviasales — multi-stop usually wins; set a fare alert if you’re planning to reroute via SUB or LOP. The commission we earn helps keep articles like this free to read.

Related guides

• Backpacker cheap-fare hack DPS to Bangkok & Singapore
• Cost math DPS to Tokyo / Seoul via KUL
• Visa-free Indonesian passport 2026: 73-destination matrix
• DPS Ngurah Rai T2 international airport profile
• Lombok (LOP) alternative during Nyepi
• Denpasar - Bangkok fares by month

Closing note from the backpacker desk

DPS Nyepi closure isn’t an event you can workaround with tricks or hacks — this is provincial-level regulation protected by Kemenhub NOTAM. Plan around it, not plan to bypass. If you genuinely need to fly March 19, 2026 from the Bali area, the most realistic option is to shift trip to H-1 or H+1, not last-minute reroute via LOP/SUB (alternative airport slots are usually fully booked).

For us regular DPS travelers, Nyepi is an annual operational marker: when planning Q1 trips from Bali, we automatically skip the March 17-21 window (3 days before + 1 day after Nyepi for margin re-opening + post-festival airport congestion). Past years we nearly got caught with international transit DPS bookings on Nyepi-day — got auto-rescheduled, but still triggered replanning 4-6 weeks ahead. Lesson: always cross-check the Nyepi date when booking Q1 outbound from/to Bali.

For backpackers experiencing Nyepi in Bali for the first time: stay. This holy day is culturally remarkable — quietest 24 hours you’ll ever experience on an island that’s usually super busy. Many hostels in Ubud/Canggu/Sanur prepare food + water stock H-1, no power outage but lights dimmed, no WiFi restriction but minimal-use suggested. Worth experiencing once if your trip timing matches.

Happy hunting, and respect Nyepi.

Affiliate disclosure: /go/ links in this article are Aviasales affiliate (1.0-1.6% commission, same price as Skyscanner direct). We’re not paid differently to recommend reschedule vs reroute via alternative airport.

Last updated: May 11, 2026. Next review: January 2026 (pre-Nyepi schedule confirmation cycle).