Bali News｜September 18, 2026

🏍️ MotoGP Mandalika Countdown! Lombok Enters Final Preparations, Bali Travelers Can Easily Visit

The 2026 MotoGP Mandalika is just around the corner.

Lombok, neighboring Bali, has entered the final preparation phase for the world-class motorcycle racing event. The Mandalika circuit is undergoing track resurfacing on certain corners, grandstand reinforcement, and electronic safety system upgrades, with work expected to be completed by mid-September.

This year’s MotoGP Mandalika will take place from October 9 to 11.

The race weekend kicks off with practice sessions on Friday, followed by qualifying and a Sprint race on Saturday, and the main MotoGP race on Sunday, starting at 3 PM.

For travelers staying in Bali, Lombok is an excellent destination for a quick Bali + MotoGP getaway.

Flights from Denpasar to Lombok take about 30 to 40 minutes, with a 20-minute drive from Lombok Airport to the Mandalika circuit. Alternatively, you can take a speedboat from Padang Bai to Lombok.

And this year, the cheapest general standing ticket starts at around 155,000 Indonesian Rupiah, while general grandstand seats range from 400,000 to 460,000 Indonesian Rupiah.

Official website: motogp.com

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🌊 Diving Accident in Nusa Penida! Malaysian Tourist Dies at Crystal Bay

A diving accident occurred yesterday in Nusa Penida.

A 39-year-old Malaysian female tourist, Siti Nuraini Binti Rusidi, tragically died after a diving incident at Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida on September 16.

Police reported that she was diving with her group at Manta Bay and Crystal Bay that day. During the dive at Crystal Bay, they encountered strong underwater currents. At one point, she signaled that she was running low on oxygen and appeared panicked, prompting her dive instructor to assist her in ascending immediately.

She was still responsive when brought back onto the boat, but her condition deteriorated rapidly on the way to a medical facility, and she was later pronounced dead. Police are still investigating the exact cause of death and have taken statements from the dive instructor, boat captain, and fellow divers.

This news is especially important for anyone planning to go diving in Nusa Penida soon.

Crystal Bay is not your ordinary snorkeling beach.

Local ocean currents, sea conditions, and diving depths all require professional judgment. Even if you have diving experience, you should not assess sea conditions based solely on beautiful photos online.

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🚤 Nusa Penida Sea Ordeal! Speedboat Lost Power and Drifted to Java, All 3 Rescued

Another maritime incident near Nusa Penida has also seen a new development today.

A Baliman speedboat previously lost power near Manta Point in Nusa Penida, with the captain and two crew members going missing.

The search and rescue operation continued into its fifth day, until good news arrived on the evening of September 16:

All three were rescued by local fishermen in Puger, Java, and survived.

Rescue authorities stated that after losing power, the boat was affected by wind and currents, eventually drifting to a location about 42 nautical miles from the coast. Sea conditions at the time were unfavorable, with waves in the search area reaching 2–4 meters, adding to the difficulty of the operation.

This incident once again reminds travelers heading to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and surrounding waters:

The biggest risk of an island trip is often not the land-based attractions, but the sea conditions.

If you encounter strong winds, rough seas, or a sudden ferry cancellation, don’t force yourself to head out just to stick to your itinerary.

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🚗 Kuta and Legian to Get More Parking Spaces! Badung Government Aims to Reduce Traffic Jams Caused by Street Parking

The Badung government is exploring new transportation solutions to improve the chronic traffic congestion in the Kuta and Legian areas.

One of the measures is planning parking pockets (kantong parkir) along Pantai Kuta to Legian, aiming to shift some parking demand away from main roads.

Currently, local roads often see reduced traffic flow due to vehicles stopping temporarily, dropping off passengers, and parking, so the government hopes to improve road capacity through centralized parking.

This will be quite noticeable for travelers.

Especially for those staying in:

Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak

If you’re taking a ride to the beach or popular restaurants, the way traffic is managed in the area may gradually change.

This is still in the government’s planning and implementation phase—it’s not a case of ‘roadside parking being completely banned starting tomorrow’—so travelers don’t need to change their existing itineraries for now.

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🦠 Family of three in Jembrana bitten by suspected rabid puppy! Puppy not vaccinated

Bali’s rabies issue is back in the spotlight today.

A mother and her two children in a Jembrana family were bitten by their own puppy on separate occasions.

The mother was first bitten on September 8 while bathing the puppy, and a few days later, the two children were also attacked. One of them, a 15-year-old boy, suffered deeper wounds with bleeding fingers, requiring a trip to the emergency room.

What’s more concerning is that the puppy had not been vaccinated against rabies and had been in fights with other dogs. The puppy later died, and samples have been sent to a lab for testing.

Authorities are now following standard procedures for rabies exposure incidents.

For travelers visiting Bali, the key takeaway from this news isn’t that ‘Bali has rabies’—that has always been a public health concern to watch out for here.

Rather, it’s this:

If you see a stray or unfamiliar dog, even if it looks cute, don’t just pet it.

Especially don’t let children approach or feed unfamiliar dogs on their own.

If you are actually bitten or scratched, don’t wait for symptoms to appear at the wound before treating it. Immediately wash the wound with plenty of water and soap, and seek medical evaluation for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis as soon as possible.