A few Thai festivals affect travel plans more than others: Songkran in April, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October, and Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in November. This guide gives the 2026 dates, the rules visitors should know and how to get there.
Many Thai festivals follow the Thai or Chinese lunar calendar, so the dates move every year. The dates below were checked in September 2026; confirm them with the organiser before you book travel.
Thai Festivals at a Glance
| When | Festival | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2026 (6 February 2027) | Chinese New Year | Thai-Chinese communities nationwide |
| 3 March 2026 | Makha Bucha | Temples nationwide |
| 13–15 April 2026 | Songkran | Nationwide |
| 10–18 October 2026 | Vegetarian Festival | Phuket |
| 24 November 2026 | Loy Krathong | Nationwide; Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Bangkok |
| 24–25 November 2026 (expected) | Yi Peng | Chiang Mai |
Songkran: Thai New Year
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. In 2026 the public holidays were 13–15 April. In the cities it is also a big water festival. UNESCO added Songkran to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage on 6 December 2023.
Songkran in Bangkok
In 2026 Bangkok ran Songkran under a "3S" code: Safe (water play only in designated areas, no alcohol), Soft (modest dress, no powder, no harassment) and Spirit (keep the tradition). The main zones were:
- Silom Road: 12–14 April, from 13:00.
- Siam Square: 13–15 April, 11:00–22:00.
- ICONSIAM: 10–15 April.
- Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Road: 11–15 April.
- Khao San Road: also a zone, with screening for banned items.
Powder, chalk, coloured sprays and high-pressure water guns were banned in the main zones, and drink-driving checkpoints ran 24 hours a day. The 2026 penalties were:
- High-pressure water cannons or modified guns: up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to 4,000 THB.
- Revealing clothing or indecent behaviour: a fine of up to 5,000 THB.
- Drink-driving (limit 50 mg%, or 20 mg% for drivers under 20): up to 1 year in prison and a fine of 5,000–20,000 THB.
Check the 2027 zones and rules before you travel.
Tips for Songkran
- Put your phone and cash in a waterproof bag, and wear modest clothes that dry quickly.
- Leave powder and high-pressure water guns at home, and drink alcohol only outside the water zones.
- Respect people who do not want to get wet.
Buddhist Holy Days
These are quiet temple days, not street parties:
- Makha Bucha: February or March, depending on the lunar calendar: 3 March 2026 (expected 21 February in 2027).
- Visakha Bucha: Sunday 31 May 2026, with the substitute holiday on Monday 1 June.
- Asanha Bucha and Khao Phansa (the start of Buddhist Lent): 29 and 30 July 2026.
- Ok Phansa (the end of Buddhist Lent): 26 October 2026.
No alcohol may be sold in shops, convenience stores or ordinary restaurants anywhere in Thailand on these five days. Licensed hotels, international airport terminals and licensed entertainment venues are exempt.
Loy Krathong: Festival of Floating Lights
Loy Krathong 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. People float a krathong, a small decorated float with a candle and flowers, on rivers and lakes. Choose one made of banana trunk, banana leaves and flowers, not styrofoam.
The 2026 programmes have not been announced yet. The 2025 events show the usual pattern (Loy Krathong fell on 5 November that year):
- Sukhothai: the Loi Krathong and Candle Festival ran for ten days, 27 October to 5 November 2025, in Sukhothai Historical Park, with a candle tribute every night at 21:21.
- Ayutthaya: Maha Loi Krathong, 2–6 November 2025, at Wat Phra Ram in Ayutthaya Historical Park.
- Bangkok: the Bangkok River Festival, 3–5 November 2025, at 9 piers, including Wat Pho, Wat Arun and ICONSIAM.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival, Chiang Mai
Yi Peng is the northern lantern festival, held in Chiang Mai on the same nights as Loy Krathong. In 2026 the main nights are expected to be 24–25 November; the official programme is not published yet.
You can watch for free along the Ping River between the Iron Bridge and Nakorn Ping Bridge, on Nawarat Bridge, at Tha Phae Gate, along the Old City moat and at temples such as Wat Phan Tao.
The mass lantern releases are ticketed events outside the city, for example in Mae On district and near Mae Jo University. Tickets cost about 4,800–15,900 THB, depending on the seat level and on whether transport is included. Cheaper events cost about 2,500–4,900 THB.
Sky lanterns are banned inside Chiang Mai city limits and near airport flight paths; breaking the rule can mean a fine and possibly jail. Release lanterns only at the announced times and places. In 2025, lanterns in Chiang Mai and Lamphun were allowed only from 19:00 to 01:00 on the festival nights. Chiang Mai airport ended all flights by 19:00, and 161 flights were cancelled or rescheduled. The 2026 arrangements are not announced yet. If you fly into or out of Chiang Mai on the festival nights, choose a flight that lands or leaves before 19:00, and check with your airline.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Vegetarian Festival, or Nine Emperor Gods Festival, follows the Chinese lunar calendar. In 2026 the nine main days are 10–18 October; the Go Teng pole is raised on the evening of 9 October. In 2025 it ran 20–29 October.
The main shrines are Jui Tui, Bang Neow, Kathu, Sam Kong, Sapam and Tha Rue. From 11 to 18 October, one shrine each morning leads a street procession of mediums in trance, starting 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.
Look for yellow flags with red Chinese characters: they mark shops that sell "jay" food. Jay food has no meat, dairy, eggs or alcohol, and none of the five pungent vegetables: garlic, onion, shallot, chives and leek.
At a procession, arrive before the start time and wear white, with long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes, because firecrackers are thrown along the route. Ask before you take close-up photos of anyone in trance, and do not touch the mediums.
Royal and National Holidays
| Date in 2026 | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 3 June | Queen Suthida's Birthday |
| 28 July | King Vajiralongkorn's Birthday |
| 12 August | Queen Sirikit's Birthday and Mother's Day |
| 13 October | King Bhumibol Memorial Day |
| 23 October | Chulalongkorn Memorial Day |
| 5 December (holiday on 7 December) | King Bhumibol's Birthday and Father's Day |
| 10 December | Constitution Day |
Regional Festivals
- Rocket festivals (Bun Bang Fai): in 2026 the Bua Khok Ten Million Rocket Festival ran 16–17 May in Tha Tum, Surin, and the TAT listed rocket festivals in Roi Et and Kalasin in June.
- Candle Festival, Ubon Ratchathani: held around Asanha Bucha and Khao Phansa in July. In 2025 it ran 9–13 July at Thung Sri Mueang, with the evening candle parade on 10–11 July. The 2026 dates were not confirmed.
- Phi Ta Khon, Dan Sai, Loei: 20–22 June in 2026, at the Dan Sai District Office and Wat Phon Chai. The dates change every year.
- Chiang Mai Flower Festival: early to mid-February (13–15 February in 2026, at Nong Buak Haad Public Park).
Getting to the Festivals
Roads close for parades during big festivals. Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included:
| Festival | Route | Sedan / SUV / van |
|---|---|---|
| Songkran or Loy Krathong in Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok | 600 / 800 / 1,100 THB |
| Loy Krathong in Ayutthaya | Bangkok to Ayutthaya | 1,500 / 1,700 / 2,000 THB |
| Yi Peng in Chiang Mai | Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai | 7,500 / 8,500 / 10,000 THB |
| Vegetarian Festival in Phuket | Phuket Airport to Patong Beach | 1,000 / 1,100 / 1,400 THB |
Book online: Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok by sedan, Bangkok to Ayutthaya by van, Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai by SUV or Phuket Airport to Patong Beach by sedan. For Sukhothai, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani or Dan Sai there is no fixed fare: ask for a quote on WhatsApp. For a full day with a car and driver, see the private tours.
Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting 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 payment link (an extra fee for creating and handling the payment link may apply). 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). During a festival, agree a pickup point away from the parade route.
Practical Festival Tips
- Check the dates every year. Buddhist holy days and Loy Krathong follow the Thai lunar calendar; the Vegetarian Festival follows the Chinese one.
- Dress for temples. Cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes in temple halls, and do not point your feet at Buddha images or monks.
- Carry small notes for food stalls, offerings and temple donations.
- Ask before you photograph people, especially during religious rituals.
- Bangkok in mid-October 2026: Bangkok hosts the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings. Banks in Bangkok close on 16 October, and there are extra security measures. Allow extra time for road trips in the city.
- Save these numbers: Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours, several languages), ambulance 1669, police 191, TAT Call Centre 1672.
FAQ
When is Loy Krathong in 2026? Tuesday 24 November 2026, on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. Chiang Mai celebrates Yi Peng on the same nights.
When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in 2026? The nine main days are 10–18 October 2026. The Go Teng pole is raised on the evening of 9 October.
Is 3 June Mother's Day in Thailand? No. 3 June is Queen Suthida's birthday; Mother's Day is 12 August.
Can I buy alcohol on Buddhist holidays? Not in shops, convenience stores or ordinary restaurants on the five Buddhist holy days. Licensed hotels and international airport terminals are exempt.
Planning a festival trip? Start your booking on the booking page or message us on WhatsApp.