Traditional Thai Festivals

What are the biggest Thai festivals?

The biggest Thai festivals are Songkran and Loy Krathong. Songkran is the Thai New Year, and 13 to 15 April 2027 are public holidays across the country. Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the 12th lunar month, when people float krathong on rivers and lakes. In the old royal city, Loy Krathong in Sukhothai runs from 15 to 24 November 2026 in the historical park, with candles, fire and light-and-sound shows.

Most other Thai festivals belong to one region. Chiang Mai has its umbrellas, flowers and Yi Peng lanterns. Isan has rockets, ghost masks and giant candles. Bangkok, Phuket and Hat Yai throw the big Chinese New Year parties. Many follow the Buddhist or Chinese lunar calendar, so the date moves every year.

Pick the festival first, then build the trip around it. Plan it with Tanner.

When are Thailand's traditional festivals?

Pick your festival and Thailand has a night for it: rockets in Yasothon in May, ghost masks in Dan Sai in June, giant wax candles in Ubon in July. Thailand festivals in 2027 start with Bo Sang's umbrellas in January and end with Loy Krathong, expected on Saturday 13 November. The traditional festivals follow the seasons and the moon, so many 2027 dates aren't announced yet; where the next date isn't out, the table gives the last edition's dates and marks the next one expected.

Book your base early for the big ones, then lock in the days when the dates land. Ask Tanner.

Why are there so many Thai festivals?

Thailand has so many festivals because several calendars run at once, and each one throws its own party. The Buddhist moon calendar sets the candle and river nights on the full moons. The rice year brings rockets for the rain in May and water fights at the April New Year. Royal and national days add long weekends, Chinese festivals light up Yaowarat and Phuket Town, and the December music festivals sit on top.

The Buddhist days follow the Thai lunar calendar, so they land on a different date every year. The table shows where they fall in 2027. When a holy day falls on a Sunday, the Monday after is the day off.

Each region keeps its own festivals too. Isan's old village calendar, Heet Sip Song, sets one merit festival for each of the 12 lunar months, from the rocket festival before planting to the candles cast for Buddhist Lent, the heart of the Ubon Candle Festival, and the lamps and boats at its end. Isan's 12 months, in short:

• Month 1, Bun Khao Kam: monks go on retreat, and villagers make merit with them.
• Month 2, Bun Khun Lan: the harvested rice is blessed before it goes into the barn.
• Month 3, Bun Khao Chi: grilled sticky rice for the monks, and Makha Bucha.
• Month 4, Bun Phawet: the whole village hears the Vessantara story, all 13 chapters.
• Month 5, Bun Song Nam: Songkran, with water poured for elders and Buddha images.
• Month 6, Bun Bang Fai: the rocket festival, to call the rain before planting.
• Month 7, Bun Sam Ha: a merit-making to clear bad luck out of the village.
• Month 8, Bun Khao Phansa: candles are cast for the start of Buddhist Lent.
• Month 9, Bun Khao Pradap Din: food offerings for the ancestors.
• Month 10, Bun Khao Sak: merit by lots, for the dead and the guardian spirits.
• Month 11, Bun Ok Phansa: lamps and illuminated boats for the end of Lent.
• Month 12, Bun Kathin: new robes for the monks after the rains retreat.

Which month should you go? April for the water, November for the lanterns and December for the music festivals. For a first trip, November is the pick: Loy Krathong and Yi Peng land in the same week, and the cool season has started.

The other regions keep their own. In the North, the Lanna New Year runs 4 to 7 days, and Yi Peng's lanterns light the full moon of the 12th month. In the South, Chak Phra falls the day after Ok Phansa (27 October in 2026), and Nakhon Si Thammarat holds the Tenth Month festival in late September or early October. Want to see one? Ask Tanner.

Which cultural festivals are in Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has two cultural festivals early in the year. The Bo Sang Umbrella Festival comes first: the 42nd edition runs from 15 to 17 January 2027 in Bo Sang village, San Kamphaeng, the home of Chiang Mai's hand-made umbrellas. Last time it ran from 16 to 18 January 2026.

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival follows in February. The 49th festival ran from 13 to 15 February 2026 at Nong Buak Haad Public Park, with the flower parade setting off from Nawarat Bridge, and entry was free every day. The 50th edition is expected in February 2027; the city hasn't announced the dates yet.

In November the city turns to lanterns for Yi Peng, from 23 to 25 November 2026. Any of the three makes a good long weekend in the north. Ask Tanner.

When do Thais celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Chinese New Year in Thailand falls on Saturday 6 February 2027. Thais celebrate the Lunar New Year as Trut Chin, but it isn't a national public holiday.

Bangkok's party is on Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, and the 2027 programme isn't announced yet. In 2026, Yaowarat was lit up from Odeon Circle to Chaloem Buri intersection every night from 7 February to 1 March, from 6pm to 11pm. Other cities throw their own:

• Nakhon Sawan: the Chao Pho–Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho procession ran 10 to 21 February 2026, its 110th year.
• Phuket Old Town: 22 to 24 February 2026.
• Hat Yai: 17 to 22 February 2026, with free concerts.
• Red Cross Fair, Bangkok: just before it, the Thai Red Cross Society's big charity fair fills Lumpini Park from 18 to 31 January 2027.

Chinatown's lanes get packed after dark. Ask Tanner and a car drops you at the edge and waits.

What are the big festivals in Isan?

The big festivals in Isan, Thailand's northeast, run from May to November. Each one is loud, local and a long way from Bangkok, so plan the drive.

• Rocket Festival, Yasothon: the Bun Bang Fai parade and rocket launches ran 8 to 10 May 2026 along Chaeng Sanit Road. Expected in May 2027.
• Phi Ta Khon, Dan Sai: the ghost-mask festival of Bun Luang ran 20 to 22 June 2026 in Loei. Expected in June or July 2027.
• Candle Festival, Ubon Ratchathani: giant wax candles parade for Khao Phansa, the start of Buddhist Lent, with more than 5,000 free stand seats. The 2026 festival was the 125th. Khao Phansa 2027 is Monday 19 July.
• Phimai Festival, Nakhon Ratchasima: 11 to 15 November 2026 in Phimai.
• Surin Elephant Round-up: 21 to 22 November 2026 at the Surin Elephant Show Ground. Reserved seats are ฿350 and ฿250, and the main grandstand is free.

Want two in one trip? Plan it with Tanner.

What happens at the end of Buddhist Lent?

The end of Buddhist Lent, Ok Phansa, brings some of Thailand's most magical nights. In 2027 Ok Phansa is expected on Friday 15 October, and five provinces build a festival around it. Here's how they ran last time, in October 2026:

• Naga fireballs, Nong Khai: the fireball night is Ok Phansa, on the Mekong. Last time it was Monday 26 October 2026, with the festival from 22 October to 3 November and a light and sound show on the nights before.
• Illuminated boats, Nakhon Phanom: Lai Ruea Fai ran from 16 to 27 October 2026, with the boats on the river on 26 October.
• Wax castles, Sakon Nakhon: the Wax Castle Festival and long-boat races ran 20 to 26 October 2026.
• Buffalo racing, Chonburi: the 155th races ran 17 to 25 October 2026.
• Lotus throwing, Bang Phli: Rap Bua's lotus throwing ran on Sunday 25 October 2026.

Ok Phansa 2027 is expected on Friday 15 October. Ask Tanner which night suits your group.

When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival?

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival runs for nine days in the ninth Chinese lunar month. In 2026 it ran from 10 to 18 October, after the pole-raising on 9 October, at more than 40 Chinese shrines, with processions through Phuket Town.

The 2027 festival is expected from about 30 September to 8 October 2027, following the lunar calendar. Pair it with a few beach days. Plan it with Tanner.

Which Thai festivals are public holidays?

Songkran, 13 to 15 April 2027, is the big run of public holidays, and the Buddhist holy days are holidays too; Chinese New Year and Loy Krathong are normal working days. Every date is in Thailand public holidays 2027.

How do you plan a Thai festival trip?

Plan a trip around Thai cultural festivals by picking a base first, then adding the festival days. Most run two to four days, and many are far from Bangkok, so the cars and the place you stay matter more than tickets.

• 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.
• Get around: a luxury van with a driver from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for up to 4 guests.
• Festival manners: cover your shoulders and knees at temples, leave offerings alone, and ask before you take photos inside a shrine.

Read more: Songkran 2027, New Year countdown in Thailand and festival trips in Thailand. Plan it with Tanner: say which festival and how many days you have.

What are Thai festivals, in short?

• Biggest: Songkran, 13 to 15 April 2027, and Loy Krathong, 24 November 2026.

• Next on the Mekong: Ok Phansa, expected Friday 15 October 2027, with the Naga fireballs and the illuminated boats.
• Next: Chinese New Year on Saturday 6 February 2027; most street festivals are free.

Plan it with Tanner.