Thailand Local Travel

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day
2026-10-13
Also known as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Memorial Day, this national holiday in Thailand is held annually on October 13th. If October 13th falls on a weekend, the holiday will be observed on the following Monday.

This holiday has been observed since 2017 to commemorate the death of the late King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej on this day in 2016. Most government businesses are closed and selling alcohol is prohibited.

Loy Krathong Festival 2026
2026-11-24 - 2026-11-25 | Thailand, Thailand
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and in nearby countries with significant South Western Thai cultures (Laos, Shan, Mon, Tanintharyi, Kelantan, Kedah, and Xishuangbanna). The name could be translated as “to float ritual vessel or lamp,” and comes from the tradition of making Krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river. Many Thais use the Krathong to thank the Goddess of Water and River, Goddess Khongkha or to worship the Holy Buddha’s hair pagoda in heaven in Buddhist beliefs. This festival traces its origin back to India.
Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, so the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. In Chiang Mai, the festival lasts three days.
Yi Peng is taking place at the same time, with it’s epic lantern festivals.
Chiang Mai Tips:

No need to buy tickets or pay. From Tha Phae Gate square along Tha Phae Road, down to the Ping River are all free festivities.
Parade along Tha Phae Road is free.
Can purchase Lanterns from vendors along the way.
Can purchase Krathong’s and release in the river across the bridge.
The old city hotels fill up, so book as soon as possible.

Yi Peng Festival 2026
2026-11-24 - 2026-11-25 | Thailand, Thailand
Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng. Yi means ‘two’ and peng means a ‘full moon day’. Yi Peng refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar). The festival is meant as a time to make merit.
Swarms of sky lanterns (Thai: โคมลอย; RTGS: khom loi), literally: ‘floating lanterns’, are launched into the air. Khom loi are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom loi to float into the sky.

Tomorrowland Music Festival 2026
2026-12-01 | Pattaya, Chon Buri, 20150, Thailand
World-famous electronic Tomorrowland music festival will be held in Thailand for the first time in 2026, marking the festival’s long-anticipated debut in Asia.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool confirmed that the global event will take place in Chonburi province in December 2026, with investment expected to reach billions of baht.
The move underscores Thailand’s growing push to position itself as a prime destination for global mega-events. The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has been actively supporting the hosting of international festivals and events to boost tourism and economic development.
Organizers selected Chonburi for its large event space and accessibility. The coastal province is strategically located near U-Tapao International Airport, and easily accessible from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
Originally from Belgium, Tomorrowland is renowned for its massive production scale, immersive stage design, and high-profile DJ line-ups. The festival draws hundreds of thousands of fans annually and delivers major economic benefits to host destinations.

Date: December 2026 (exact dates to be announced soon)
Location: The picturesque Silverlake Winery in Pattaya, Chonburi province, providing a stunning backdrop for the festival’s extravagant celebrations.
Duration: 2 days, immersing attendees in a whirlwind of pulsating beats and mesmerizing visuals that will leave them breathless.
Theme: “Paperworld,” focusing on handcrafted design and imagination, promising to transport festival-goers to a world of creativity and fantasy.
