New Year in Thailand

When is the countdown in Thailand?

Fireworks over the river, a street party with half of Bangkok, or bare feet on the sand on Koh Phangan at midnight: you get four days to chase the New Year countdown in Thailand. Both 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 are holidays. The city line-ups for 2026/27 aren't out yet, so the table shows last year's dates.

The sites announce their 2026/27 line-ups in December, but flights and villas go first. Ask Tanner to hold your base now.

Where's the biggest countdown in Thailand?

The biggest New Year countdown in Thailand is in Bangkok, on the Chao Phraya at ICONSIAM. Last year's Amazing Thailand Countdown ran there from 27 to 31 December, with fireworks, drones and pyrotechnics over the river.

CentralWorld is the other giant, billed as the Times Square of Asia, with its countdown on 31 December. One Bangkok and Sukhumvit joined in last year: Extravaganza Sukhumvit set off fireworks along more than 5km of Sukhumvit Road, from Asoke and Phrom Phong to Benchasiri Park and Thong Lor.

Every Bangkok zone, the river boats and the last trains home are in New Year's Eve in Bangkok.

First New Year in Thailand? Do Bangkok, and watch from the river. Ask Tanner for a boat on the night.

What is NEON Countdown?

NEON Countdown is Bangkok's big New Year music festival. Last year it ran over two nights, 30 and 31 December, at Rajamangala National Stadium.

The 2026/27 dates and line-up aren't out yet. Buy the day sales open, then Ask Tanner for a car to the stadium and back.

Where can you count down in Pattaya?

You can count down on Pattaya Beach. Last year Pattaya Countdown ran three nights, 29 to 31 December, from 4pm on the beach.

Central Pattaya ran its own beachfront countdown too, and Sriracha Bay had fireworks on 31 December. A party van from Bangkok costs ฿3,500 each way, for up to 10 guests, and a pool villa on the Pattaya side keeps the whole group together. Ask Tanner for both.

When is the Full Moon countdown party?

The Full Moon countdown party is on Thursday 31 December 2026 at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, the New Year 2027 countdown on the beach. The regular Full Moon Party comes a week earlier, on Thursday 24 December.

That makes the islands a Christmas-to-New-Year trip: your own Full Moon speedboat from Samui, back at the time you choose, and a catamaran day around Koh Phangan. The whole week is in the New Year festival trip. Ask Tanner to hold the speedboat for your week.

Every Full Moon night to the end of 2027 is in Full Moon Party. Here for the whole week? The Christmas Eve parties and the Bangkok trees are in Christmas in Thailand.

Where else in Thailand can you count down?

Away from the big three, the provinces throw their own countdowns. Last year Hatyai New Year ran on Thammanoonwithi Road on 30 and 31 December, and Udon Countdown at UD Town on 31 December.

Heading to Phuket instead? The beach nights and the late clubs are in New Year's Eve in Phuket.

Ask Tanner which fits your group.

Can you watch the countdown from a boat?

Yes. See the New Year countdown in Thailand from your own boat: on the river in Bangkok, across the bay in Pattaya, or off Patong in Phuket. Each city has its own private boat, priced per boat, not per person.

At midnight the fireworks go up over the water, and you watch them from your own deck with your own drinks, clear of the crowds on the bank.

Read New Year's Eve in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Ask Tanner for your boat.

How do you get around on New Year's Eve?

Get around Bangkok on New Year's Eve by train or with your own driver: last New Year's Eve the trains and city buses ran until 2am. Every way home is in New Year's Eve in Bangkok.

For a group, your own car with a driver is easier: it drops you at the edge of the crowds and you skip the platform crush. Ask Tanner and the car waits for you after.

How do you plan New Year in Thailand?

Plan a New Year's Eve Thailand trip around the four-day break: Thursday 31 December to Sunday 3 January. Bangkok for the river fireworks, Pattaya for the beach, or Koh Phangan for the Full Moon countdown.

Book your flights and your base first, because the four-day break fills the airports and the villas. Pick one city for the night itself: moving between Bangkok, Pattaya and the islands on 31 December eats the evening. Get to the fireworks early, before the roads close, and set a meeting point for your group. Last New Year's Eve the trains ran until 2am, so plan the ride home before midnight.

• Arrive: 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.
• Your base: a private pool villa from ฿18,500 a day, or from ฿12,500 a day in Pattaya.
• Get around: a luxury van with a driver from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for up to 4 guests.

Read more: Music festivals in Thailand and Thailand public holidays 2027. Plan it with Tanner: say how many days you have and he builds the whole trip.

What should you bring for the New Year countdown?

For the New Year countdown in Thailand, book your flights and your base first, because the four-day break fills them fast. On the night, bring a meeting point for your group and a plan for the ride home.

What's New Year in Thailand in short?

• New Year's Eve: Thursday 31 December 2026; New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2027. Both are bank holidays.

• Bangkok: the ICONSIAM countdown on the river, CentralWorld, One Bangkok and Sukhumvit.
• Koh Phangan: the Full Moon countdown on 31 December.
• The ICONSIAM river show ran 27 to 31 December last year, with fireworks and drones.
• Pattaya Beach counted down over three nights last year, 29 to 31 December, from 4pm.
• Checked November 2026.

Plan it with Tanner.