The Taman Werdhi Budaya (Art Centre) is Denpasar's main cultural venue, a large complex of pavilions, stages, and galleries used for performances, exhibitions, and cultural events throughout the year. The complex itself is worth visiting even outside performance season for its traditional Balinese architecture and the permanent collection of paintings and sculpture in the gallery buildings.
The highlight of the calendar is the annual Bali Arts Festival (Pesta Kesenian Bali), held here every June and July since 1979. The month-long festival brings performance groups from every district on the island, presenting traditional music (gamelan, gender wayang, jegog), classical and modern dance (legong, barong, kecak, kreasi baru), wayang kulit shadow puppetry, and crafts demonstrations. There is nothing more comprehensive or more authentic anywhere on the island. Even if your visit doesn't coincide with the main festival, the Art Centre stages regular smaller performances — check the local tourist office or hotel notice board for current schedules.