We report a high-performance self-powered, flexible, and single aluminum nitride nanowire ultraviolet photodetector (AlNNW-UVPD) with an excellent detectivity and responsivity of 2.62 × 10¹² cm Hz^1/2 W⁻¹ and 362.5 mA/W, respectively, under 254 nm UV light exposure. We fabricated a very small size, flexible nanoscale photodetector via a very cost-efficient hot-contact method, achieving very good speed with the rise time and fall time of 50 ms and 251.5 ms, respectively. The AlNNW-UVPD device selectivity was demonstrated by two different UV light sources of 254 nm and 302 nm at a bias voltage of 0 V. Furthermore, the device showed very good durability to vigorous bending test. In addition to being very small, cost-effective, flexible, high performing, and durable, our self-powered AlNNW-UV photodetector can offer innovative solutions and insights for portable, sensitive, small, and flexible electronics and photonics.