Traditional Thai dance and theatre are still performed today: masked khon at a royal theatre in Bangkok, Nora in the south, and shadow puppets, folk opera and festival masks at temple fairs and festivals. This guide explains the main forms, where to see them and how to get there.
Dates were checked in September 2026. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and local organisers, and most regional organisers publish them only one to two months ahead, so confirm them with the organiser before you book travel.
The Living Heritage of Thai Performance Arts
UNESCO has added two Thai dance forms to its lists of intangible cultural heritage: "Khon, masked dance drama in Thailand" in 2018 and "Nora, dance drama in Southern Thailand" in 2021. On 6 December 2023 UNESCO also added Songkran, the Thai New Year festival.
Most traditional performances tell stories of gods, heroes and demons, with live music and detailed costumes. You do not need to understand Thai to enjoy them, but reading the story before the show helps.
Classical Thai Dance Forms
Khon (Masked Dance Drama)
Khon is the best-known form of Thai classical theatre. Many characters, such as demons and monkeys, wear painted masks, and the performers move to narration, song and a piphat ensemble (a traditional Thai orchestra). The stories come from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian epic Ramayana.
Where to see khon in Bangkok: the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre, 66 Charoen Krung Road, Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. It currently stages a khon production about Hanuman, the white monkey warrior of the Ramakien. The theatre website shows no show dates or prices, so contact the office before you go: it is open daily 09:00–18:00, phone 0-2225-8757-8 or 0-2623-8148.
Nora (Manora)
Nora, also spelled Manora, is a dance drama from southern Thailand. It mixes energetic, partly improvised dance with song, and the dancers wear costumes made of coloured beads and tall crowns. You are most likely to see it at temple fairs in the southern provinces; ask your hotel which events are on during your stay.
Lakhon (Dance Drama)
Lakhon is a dance drama with softer, more flowing movements than khon, and the dancers do not wear masks. Lakhon nai was the court style; lakhon nok developed outside the palace and is livelier, with more humour.
Fon (Regional Dance)
Fon is the general word for Thai dance. Northern Thailand has its own styles:
- Fon lep (fingernail dance): dancers wear long brass fingernails and move slowly and gracefully.
- Fon tian (candle dance): dancers hold lit candles as they move.
In Chiang Mai, these dances are often part of a khantoke dinner, a traditional northern meal served with a show.
Shadow Puppets and Folk Theatre
Nang Yai (Large Shadow Puppets)
Nang yai uses large panels of cut leather, each showing a whole scene. Performers dance with the panels in front of a lit screen while a narrator tells the story.
The Nang Yai and Kala Fire Festival was held on 1–3 May 2026 at the Nang Yai Wat Ban Don Museum in Rayong. Check the museum's announcement for the next edition.
Nang Talung (Southern Shadow Puppets)
Nang talung is the smaller shadow-puppet theatre of southern Thailand. One puppeteer moves the cut-leather figures and speaks all the voices, often with local jokes and comments on daily life. Like Nora, it appears at temple fairs and local celebrations in the south.
Likay and Mor Lam
Likay is a popular folk opera with glittering costumes, song, comedy and melodrama. It is often staged at temple fairs across the country.
Mor lam is the singing tradition of Isan, the northeast. Singers perform to the khaen, a bamboo mouth organ, and modern mor lam shows add a band and dancers. It is a highlight of temple fairs in the region.
Festivals with Dance and Performance
| When | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 20 February–1 March 2026 | Phra Nakhon Khiri festival | Khao Wang, Phetchaburi |
| 18–19 April 2026 | Chiang Mai International Music Art and Culture Festival | Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai |
| 1–3 May 2026 | Nang Yai and Kala Fire Festival | Nang Yai Wat Ban Don Museum, Rayong |
| 20–22 June 2026 | Phi Ta Khon | Dan Sai, Loei |
| 6–8 October 2025 | Ok-Wa festival (end of Buddhist Lent) | Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son |
| 10–18 October 2026 | Phuket Vegetarian Festival | Phuket |
| 24–25 November 2026 | Yi Peng and Loy Krathong | Chiang Mai |
The February to June 2026 events have already taken place, and the Ok-Wa row shows the 2025 dates. They show the usual time of year; check the organiser's announcement for the next edition.
Phi Ta Khon, Dan Sai
Phi Ta Khon, also called Bun Luang, is famous for its colourful ghost masks and costumes. In 2026 it ran from 20 to 22 June at the Dan Sai District Office and Wat Phon Chai in Dan Sai, Loei. The dates change every year.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Vegetarian Festival, or Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is a Chinese religious festival with dramatic rituals rather than a dance festival. In 2026 the nine main days are 10–18 October. Each morning from 11 to 18 October, a street procession leaves from a different shrine between 06:00 and 08:00. Fire-walking and blade-ladder climbing start around 20:00, mainly from 14 to 17 October at the major shrines. The main shrines are Jui Tui, Bang Neow, Kathu, Sam Kong, Sapam and Tha Rue.
Wear white, with long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes, because firecrackers are thrown along the routes. Ask before you take close-up photos of anyone in trance, and do not touch the mediums.
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, Chiang Mai
Loy Krathong 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, and Chiang Mai's Yi Peng celebrations centre on 24–25 November. The city has not yet published its official programme. Guides list Tha Phae Gate as a free place to watch, with a parade and stage shows in the early evening.
If you fly into or out of Chiang Mai on the festival nights, check your flight with the airline. In 2025 the airport ended all flights by 19:00 on the two festival nights, and 161 flights were cancelled or rescheduled.
Theatre Shows
Besides the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre in Bangkok, Siam Niramit Phuket (opened in 2011, phone +66 76 335 001) stages a cultural show in Phuket. The Siam Niramit website now covers only the Phuket show, so do not plan on a Siam Niramit show in Bangkok. Check show times and ticket prices with the theatre before you go.
Traditional Music: The Piphat Ensemble
The piphat ensemble accompanies khon, lakhon and many temple ceremonies. Its main instruments are:
| Instrument | Type | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ranat ek | Wooden xylophone | Leads the ensemble |
| Pi nai | Reed instrument, similar to an oboe | Plays the melody |
| Khong wong | Circle of small gongs | Plays the basic melody |
| Taphon | Two-headed drum | Rhythm |
| Ching | Small cymbals | Keeps the time |
Etiquette at Performances and Temple Festivals
- Dress for the temple. Many performances take place at temples. Cover your shoulders and knees, take your shoes off before entering temple halls, and do not point your feet at Buddha images or monks. Women should not touch monks or hand things directly to them.
- Ask before you photograph people, especially during religious rituals, and follow any no-photography signs.
- Leave the drone at home unless it is registered with the NBTC and CAAT, it has third-party insurance of at least 1 million THB, and the flight was approved 3 days in advance. Fines go up to 40,000 THB.
- Carry small notes for food stalls, offerings and temple donations.
- Plan for closed roads. Parades and processions close streets. Allow extra travel time and agree a pickup point with your driver away from the route.
Getting to the Performances
Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included.
- Khon in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok costs 600 THB by sedan, 800 THB by SUV or 1,100 THB by van: book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok.
- Festivals in Chiang Mai: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai costs 7,500 THB by sedan, 8,500 THB by SUV or 10,000 THB by van: book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai. For other ways to travel, see How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
- Phuket (Siam Niramit Phuket and the Vegetarian Festival): if you stay at Patong Beach, Phuket Airport to Patong Beach costs 1,000 THB by sedan, 1,100 THB by SUV or 1,400 THB by van: book a sedan from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach. To follow the processions from shrine to shrine, the Phuket Tour (up to 10 hours) costs 2,800 THB by sedan, 3,200 THB by SUV, 3,600 THB by van or 4,100 THB by VIP van: see the tours and day trips.
- Rayong (nang yai), Phetchaburi, Dan Sai and Mae Sariang: there is no fixed fare. Ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE. For other ways to reach Rayong, see How to Get from Bangkok to Rayong.
Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). See all fares on the price list.
Safety and Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before a big festival: Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours, several languages), ambulance 1669, police 191 and the TAT Call Centre 1672.
FAQ
Where can I see khon in Bangkok? At the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre on Charoen Krung Road. It currently stages a Hanuman production. Call the office for dates and prices.
Is khon recognised by UNESCO? Yes, since 2018. Nora, a dance drama from southern Thailand, was added in 2021.
When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in 2026? The nine main days are 10–18 October 2026. Fire-walking and blade-ladder climbing take place mainly from 14 to 17 October, starting around 20:00.
To travel to a performance or festival by private car, book your transfer or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.