Sports in Thailand

What are the big sports events in Thailand?

The big sports events in Thailand are MotoGP Thailand at Buriram, three sailing regattas off Phuket and Koh Samui, the Waterjet World Cup in Pattaya, and the old race days, when buffaloes and long boats race at the end of Buddhist Lent.

These are the sporting events in Thailand worth building a trip around: world-class motorbike racing, regatta weeks on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, jet skis off Pattaya and two Thai races that go back generations.

Most of the big sport dates fall in the cool, dry months from December to March, so one trip can catch a regatta and a race weekend. The table above has every date. For everything else that's on, see the festival calendar.

Which sports can you watch in Thailand?

The sports you can watch in Thailand's big events are motorbike racing, sailing, jet ski racing and two old Thai races, buffalo racing and long-boat racing. Here's what each one is like for a visitor.

• Motorbike racing: MotoGP Thailand brings the world's top riders to the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, a 4.554 km track with 12 corners, a 1,000 m straight and room for 100,000 fans.
• Sailing: the King's Cup, Bay and Samui regattas race keelboats, multihulls and dinghies on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. You can watch the King's Cup free from the beach.
• Jet ski racing: the Waterjet World Cup brings the Jet Ski World Series to Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.
• Buffalo racing: in Chonburi, buffaloes sprint about 100 metres in classes by size, after a parade and a monks' blessing. The festival has run for more than 140 years.
• Long-boat racing: crews race long boats for royal cups on Nong Han lake, on the Mekong at Mukdahan and on the river at Nong Khai.

Every race on this page is listed in the table above, with its dates and status.

Which city is best for your group

Thailand sports events 2026 and 2027: the big dates

When does MotoGP roar into Buriram?

MotoGP Thailand 2027, the Grand Prix of Thailand, runs from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 March 2027 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, with the main race on Sunday 7 March. It's round 1 of 22, so the whole MotoGP season starts right here.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 9 November 2026 at 14:00, sold for the Sports Authority of Thailand by All Ticket, online and at 7-Eleven counters. One ticket covers all three days: Grandstand ฿5,000, Rider Stands ฿3,000, Brand and Side Stands ฿2,000, and the Paddock Pass ฿15,000 (prices seen 7 Nov 2026). Grandstand seats go fast: in 2025, more than 10,000 sold out in under three minutes. The Buriram pre-season test is on 6 and 7 February 2027, with its own tickets.

A record 228,228 fans came to the 2026 race, so Buriram hotels sell out early. Read MotoGP Thailand for tickets, the race weekend and where to stay.

When is the Phuket King's Cup Regatta?

The Phuket King's Cup Regatta 2026 runs from Saturday 5 to Saturday 12 December 2026 off Kata Beach, with racing from Monday 7 December. It's the 38th regatta, first raced in 1987, with keelboats, multihulls and youth dinghies.

It's free to watch from Kata Beach and the headlands, and there's a prize-giving every evening. Kata and Karon rooms sell out for regatta week, so book your base early. The 2027 regatta is expected in early December 2027.

Read Phuket King's Cup Regatta for the race days.

What other regattas sail in Thailand?

Two more regattas sail in Thailand after the King's Cup: the Bay Regatta off Phuket's east coast in March and the Samui Regatta in May.

• Bay Regatta: the 30th, from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 March 2027, out of Ao Po Grand Marina, the gateway to Phang Nga Bay. It sails the same week as MotoGP.
• Samui Regatta: the 24th, from 22 to 29 May 2027 off Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, with beach parties in the evenings.

Read festivals in Phuket and festivals on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.

When is the Waterjet World Cup in Pattaya?

The Waterjet World Cup races on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya from 13 to 17 January 2027. The Jet Ski World Series moved its 2026 King's Cup round to these January dates.

Pattaya is about 1 hour 55 by road from Suvarnabhumi Airport, so it's an easy add to a Bangkok trip. Read festivals in Pattaya for the rest of the season.

Where are Thailand's traditional races?

Thailand's traditional races come at the end of Buddhist Lent, around Ok Phansa, expected on Friday 15 October 2027. That's when buffaloes sprint in Chonburi and long boats race on the lakes and rivers of the north-east.

• Chonburi Buffalo Racing: race day 2027 is expected on Thursday 14 October, the day before Ok Phansa, on a track of about 100 metres in front of Chonburi Provincial Hall.
• Sakon Nakhon long-boat races: royal-cup races on Nong Han lake, inside Wax Castle Festival week. In 2026 they ran on 23 and 24 October.
• Mukdahan long-boat races: on the Mekong, with the end-of-Lent festival. In 2026 they ran from 23 to 26 October.
• Nong Khai: crews pull hard in the royal-cup long-boat race around Naga fireball night, expected on 15 October 2027.

Read Chonburi Buffalo Racing, the Wax Castle Festival and the Naga fireballs.

What sport can you see in Bangkok itself?

The sport you can see in Bangkok itself is Muay Thai every night of the week, plus two big city marathons. Both are easy to add to any Bangkok trip.

• Muay Thai: Rajadamnern Stadium has fights seven nights a week, and Lumpinee Boxing Stadium has ONE Friday Fights every Friday. Seats from ฿1,000. Read Muay Thai in Bangkok.
• Marathons: the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok on 28 and 29 November 2026, then the Bangkok Marathon on 10 January 2027, a night race from Sanam Chai Road. Read Bangkok Marathon 2027.

Can you plan a trip around a big race?

Yes, you can plan a trip around a big race, and the race date sets everything else. Get your tickets first, then the stay and the ride, because rooms near the track and the beach go weeks ahead.

• Flying to Buriram: Buriram Airport has flights from Don Mueang in Bangkok, and it's about 45 minutes from the circuit.
• Regatta week: stay in Kata or Karon, close to the start line. Phuket Airport to Kata is about one hour, and Saturday 5 December 2026 is a public holiday, so the opening weekend is busy.

Here's what Tanner books for race week:

• When you land: airport fast track for ฿2,400 a person.
• Getting around: a luxury van with a driver from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, for up to 4.
• Your base: a pool villa from ฿18,500 a day.
• To Buriram fast: a helicopter charter, quoted by Tanner.
• On the water for regatta week: the price depends on the boat; Tanner quotes to your plan.

For MotoGP, Buriram is about 400 to 410 km from Bangkok, roughly 5 hours by road, so fly or go with your own driver. For a regatta, watch free from the sand or follow the fleet from your own boat.

Flying down for regatta week? Read Bangkok to Phuket for the flights and the airport ride.

Plan it with Tanner, or see festival trips.

What's on in Thai sport, in short?

• The Phuket King's Cup Regatta runs from 5 to 12 December 2026, free to watch from Kata Beach.

• The Waterjet World Cup is on Jomtien Beach from 13 to 17 January 2027.
• MotoGP Thailand opens the season at Buriram on 5 to 7 March 2027; tickets are on sale from 9 November 2026.
• The Samui Regatta sails from 22 to 29 May 2027.

Plan it with Tanner.