Chiang Mai Flower Festival

When is the Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2027?

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2027 will be the 50th, and it's expected in February 2027. Chiang Mai City Municipality hasn't announced the 2027 dates yet, and the festival has no fixed weekend. Checked 7 Nov 2026; recheck in December and January.

Past dates move around: 1 to 5 February in 2024, and Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February in 2026, when the flower parade set off on the Saturday morning. Chinese New Year falls close by, on Saturday 6 February 2027.

• Edition: the 50th Chiang Mai Flower Festival.
• When: expected in February 2027; in 2026, 13 to 15 February.
• Parade: the Saturday morning, from 8am in 2026.
• Where: Nong Buak Haad Public Park, Chiang Mai Old City.
• Organiser: Chiang Mai City Municipality.
• Entry: free every day in 2026.

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What is the flower festival schedule?

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival schedule runs over three days, Friday to Sunday, with the flower parade on the Saturday. The 2027 programme isn't out yet, so here's how the 2026 festival ran.

Expect the same shape in 2027: gardens all weekend, the parade on Saturday morning. Plan it with Tanner.

What happens at the flower parade?

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival parade is the big moment of the weekend. In 2026 more than 23 floats covered in flowers rolled out on Saturday 14 February from 8am, with more than 9 marching bands between them.

Last year's theme was "The Majestic Florets Blooming the Glory of Chiang Mai", and the festival honoured Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, for her work for nature and Thai flowers. Rare winter flowers and varieties named after her were part of the show.

The parade starts at the foot of Nawarat Bridge by the Ping River, heads up past Tha Phae Gate and finishes at Nong Buak Haad Park. The floats also compete for prizes, so each one is built to impress. Ask Tanner.

Where is the Chiang Mai Flower Festival?

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held at Nong Buak Haad Public Park, on the south-west corner of the Old City moat. Chiang Mai City Municipality runs it, and entry was free every day in 2026.

In 2026 the park filled with more than 170,000 flowers from 52 varieties, across three garden zones and two pavilions. There were orchid and hydrangea displays, a flower tunnel, a tulip garden and lanterns that lit up after dark, plus flower and garden contests and a local crafts zone.

Go in the late afternoon and stay for the lights. A luxury van with a driver costs from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for up to 4 guests. Ask Tanner.

Where should you watch the parade?

Watch the Chiang Mai flower parade near the start or along the moat. Get to Nawarat Bridge by 7.30am, before the 8am start, to see the floats line up, or wait near Tha Phae Gate, where the parade passes a little later.

Then head to Nong Buak Haad Park, where the parade finishes and the gardens open. Ask Tanner.

What are the best festival tips?

The best tip for the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is to be early on Saturday and come back after dark. Eight more:

• Beat the crowd: be on the parade route by 7.30am for a front spot.
• Visit the park twice: in the cool morning for the flowers, and after dark for the lanterns.
• Walk it: the park, Tha Phae Gate and the parade route are all in or along the Old City moat.
• Bring cash: for the local crafts zone and the food stalls.
• Book early: the 50th is a milestone weekend, so lock in your stay once the dates are out.
• Getting there: Nong Buak Haad Park is on the south-west corner of the moat, so walk from an Old City stay, or book a luxury van with a driver from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for up to 4.
• What to wear: comfortable walking shoes and a light layer for the early parade start; cover your shoulders and knees if you stop at a temple on the way.
• Photos: the floats lining up at Nawarat Bridge before 8am give the clearest shots, and the park lanterns after dark make the night picture.

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Why is the 2027 festival a big one?

The 2027 Chiang Mai Flower Festival is a big one because it's the 50th. That makes it one of Chiang Mai's longest-running festivals, and the city's big flower show of the year.

A 50th is a milestone for Chiang Mai, so watch for the city's announcement and book your stay early for the parade weekend. Ask Tanner.

What else is on in Chiang Mai in February?

Beyond the flower festival, Chiang Mai has more on early in the year. Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, and the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival comes a few weeks earlier, from 15 to 17 January. See the whole year in Chiang Mai festivals and Thai festivals.

Make it a long stay in the north. A private pool villa costs from ฿18,500 a day. Ask Tanner.

How do you plan the flower festival?

Plan the Chiang Mai Flower Festival around the parade Saturday. Arrive on the Friday, watch the parade on Saturday morning, and see the park lights on Saturday or Sunday evening.

• Your base: a private pool villa from ฿18,500 a day.
• Get around: a luxury van with a driver from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for up to 4 guests.
• Flying via Bangkok: airport fast track at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, ฿2,400 a person: a greeter meets you at the gate and walks you through the fast immigration lane.

See every holiday and long weekend in Thailand public holidays 2027. Plan it with Tanner: say how many days you have and he builds the whole trip.

What should you bring to the Chiang Mai Flower Festival?

For the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, bring comfortable walking shoes, a light layer for the early parade and some cash for the craft stalls. Then be on the parade route by 7.30am on Saturday.

What is the short version?

• The 50th festival is expected in February 2027.

• In 2026: 13 to 15 February, parade on Saturday 14 February from 8am.
• Where: Nong Buak Haad Public Park, Chiang Mai.
• Parade: Nawarat Bridge to Nong Buak Haad, past Tha Phae Gate.
• Entry was free every day in 2026.
• The city announces the 2027 dates closer to the time.

Plan it with Tanner.