Festivals in Thailand
The season guide
Light on the river, lanterns in the north, water in April. The festivals worth planning a trip around, with the dates, the traditions behind them and the best place to stand.
Opens in 5 days Next up · Royal ceremony Royal Barge Procession Fri 6 Nov 2026 · Chao Phraya River, Wasukri Pier to Wat Arun, Bangkok The Royal Barge Procession sails on Friday 6 November 2026, Wasukri Pier to Wat Arun: 52 gilded barges and 2,200 oarsmen. The route, the timing, the best free spots and the river closures. Read the Guide The Guides
Festival by Festival
The Season at a Glance
Month by Month
Thailand's festival season runs with the cool, dry months, from the river in November to the water fights of April. Dates come from the organisers and the lunar calendar; a guide opens as each page is written.
November 2026
- Fri6 Royal Barge Procession Fifty-two gilded barges row from Wasukri pier to Wat Arun for the Royal Kathin ceremony. Once in several years.
- Fri13 Vijit Chao Phraya Thirty-one nights of light shows, projection mapping, drones and fireworks on 13 riverside landmarks.
- Tue24 Loy KrathongGuide soon Full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month: krathongs on the river and the canals, and the busiest cruise night of the year.
- Tue24 to 25 Yi Peng Lantern FestivalGuide soon The Lanna festival of lights: lantern-lit temples and parades in town, mass sky-lantern releases at ticketed grounds outside it.
- Fri27 to 28 Pattaya International Fireworks FestivalGuide soon Two nights of fireworks over the bay from pyrotechnic teams from several countries, watched from the beach.
December 2026
- Thu3 to 7 WonderfruitGuide soon Five days of music, art, food and wellness in the fields outside Pattaya, in its twelfth year.
- Fri11 to 13 Tomorrowland ThailandGuide soon The first Tomorrowland in Asia, three days on a purpose-built site inland from Pattaya.
- Fri18 to 20 EDC ThailandGuide soon Electric Daisy Carnival returns to Phuket for its third edition, moved from January to December.
- Thu31 New Year's Eve in Bangkok The ICONSIAM and CentralWorld countdowns, rooftop parties and the countdown cruises, all on one guide.
February 2027
- Fri5 to 6 Chinese New Year in YaowaratGuide soon Yaowarat Road closes for lion and dragon dances, red lanterns and the biggest street-food night of the year.
April 2027
- Tue13 to 15 SongkranGuide soon Thai New Year: temple mornings, water on the streets by noon, and the biggest party week on the calendar.
Festival Dates, Before They Sell Out
The night the fireworks are confirmed, the cruise that still has tables, the next party on the calendar. A few emails a month.