Important Thailand Holiday And Event Dates With Details (2026)

Here is a complete list of all the National Holiday dates and important event dates you will want to consider when planning travel to Thailand in 2026. Considering when to visit Thailand is one of your first considerations, but many people overlook checking what holidays or key events may be going on.

Being in Thailand over a holiday can be good or bad. Depending on the holiday, some places may be closed and alcohol may be banned. Also if you don’t like crowds, there are certain times you might want to avoid like Chinese New Year of Songkran. Also hotel prices may be higher.

However, some of the holidays are the most fun times to be in Thailand if you are looking to join fun events. Such as Loy Krathong/ Yi Peng Lantern festival in November. And of course the famous Songkran festival (Thai New Year), that last 3 days. So lets check out the list.

Many of the Buddhist holidays and celebrations are also a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and to learn about the culture. Being married to a Thai, and living out in a small village, I find the local people love to have visitors participate and they are open to teach you as well. Such as the Kathina Ceremony shown here in our village.

Buddhism is one of the traditional pillars of Thai society and influences many aspects of life in Thailand. And when you see that more than 90% of the Thai population are Buddhist, you can begin to appreciate just how important Buddhism is in Thailand. As such, there are a number of significant dates in the Buddhist calendar that visitors to Thailand should be aware of. The three most important Buddhist holidays are: Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day and Asahna Bucha Day. All three are designated as public holidays in Thailand.

Holidays & Key Events

• Chiang Mai Flower Festival- February 6th-8th
• Chinese New Year-February 17th
• Makha Bucha (Magha Puja)- March 3rd, 2026
• Chakri Day (Chakri Memorial Day) — April 6th, 2026
• Songkran (Thai New Year) April 13th-15th
• Visakha Bucha Day- May 1st
• Birthday of HM Queen Suthida- June 3rd
• Birthday of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)- July 28th
• Asahna Bucha Day- July 29th
• Wan Khao Phansa- July 30th
• Birthday Of The Queen Mother Sirikit (Mothers Day)- August 12th
• Phuket Por Tor Festival- August 19th
• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day- October 13th
• Awk Phansa- End Of October
• Loy Krathong/ Yi Peng Lantern Festival- November 24th-25th
• Resources

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Chiang Mai Flower Festival- February 6th-8th

This festival is very popular for Chiang Mai. This is the main three-day festival held annually on the first weekend of February to celebrate the end of the cool season and peak bloom of flowers. It is held at Suan Buak Haad Public Park (at the southwest corner of Chiang Mai’s Old City Moat).

What to Expect:

Grand Flower Parade:
• Saturday, 7 Feb 2026 — starts around 8:00 AM.
• Floats decorated with thousands of flowers wind through the streets, starting from Nawarat Bridge and ending at Suan Buak Haad Park.

Flower Exhibitions:
At Suan Buak Haad Park you’ll see amazing displays of blooming flowers, floral arrangements, and plant exhibitions throughout the festival area. PM Tours

Cultural Shows & Performances:
Traditional Lanna cultural performances, music, and entertainment happen during the festival period, especially on festival evenings. PM Tours

Beauty Pageant & Awards:
Miss Flower Blooming contests and awards for best parade floats are common festival features.

Chinese New Year– February 17th

This is when the new lunar year officially begins, and lasts over two weeks. Traditional celebrations typically span around 16 days, roughly from 17 February to 3 March 2026 (ending with the Lantern Festival). Chinese New Year is a regional public holiday in provinces with significant Chinese-Thai populations — Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun.

Across the rest of Thailand, it’s widely celebrated culturally (especially in Bangkok’s Chinatown (Yaowarat), Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other cities with Chinese communities), but most businesses and government offices may remain open. Expect high hotel prices especially in the first few days, with more crowded areas than usual.

Makha Bucha (Magha Puja)- March 3rd, 2026

Makha Bucha (Thai: Wan Makha Bucha, มาฆบูชา) is one of Thailand’s most important Buddhist holy days. It’s observed on the full moon day of the third lunar month according to the traditional Buddhist calendar. It is considered one of the National Holiday Dates.

The day commemorates a remarkable event in Buddhist history over 2,500 years ago when 1,250 enlightened disciples spontaneously gathered to hear the Buddha teach, without prior notice or formal scheduling.

In Thailand, Makha Bucha is also one of the no-alcohol holiday dates, meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited nationwide on that date out of respect for the religious observance.

Chakri Day (Chakri Memorial Day) — April 6th, 2026

Chakri Day (Wan Chakkri) commemorates the **founding of the Chakri Dynasty, Thailand’s current royal house, by King Rama I in 1782. This dynasty established Bangkok as the capital and has continued through successive kings to the present monarch, King Rama X. National Holiday.

Ceremonial events: The King and the royal family attend official ceremonies, including religious rites and offerings at the Royal Pantheon in Bangkok. Government offices, schools, and many businesses are typically closed, though shops, tourist sites, and services like transit remain open.

Songkran (Thai New Year) April 13th-15th

For tourists this may be the most popular and famous of the events and holidays for the year. Why? Because its one big three day party. It is also a National Holiday. Many people living in Thailand, including my friend from America, leave Thailand during this time to avoid the crowds and streets.

The most famous aspect of the celebration are the playful water fights that take place across the country. It’s a great excuse to party and let your hair down with people of all ages and all nationalities joining together to enjoy the good-natured mayhem. While it’s the water fights that capture the attention of many tourists, there is so much more to the Songkran Festival than this. Songkran is an event steeped in tradition and a time for families to come together and pay respect to their elders.

Visakha Bucha Day- May 1st

Visakha Bucha Day is the most significant event in the Buddhist calendar. The day commemorates three defining events in the life of the Buddha, which all occurred on the full-moon day of the sixth lunar month (the Visakha month). Therefor the date changes each year, and is a National Holiday.

It is observed by attending temples, with candlelight processions around temples in the evening (3 clockwise laps with candles, incense, and flowers). Alcohol sales are banned, and most bars are closed.

Birthday of HM Queen Suthida– June 3rd

Her Majesty Queen Suthida of Thailand’s birthday is on June 3, 1978, making June 3rd a national holiday in Thailand to celebrate her birthday, marked by public ceremonies and observances across the country. This is a National Holiday.

Birthday of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)– July 28th

This national holiday in Thailand is held annually on July 28th. If July 28th falls on a weekend, the holiday will be observed on the following Monday. The day commemorates the birthday of the King of Thailand, Vajiralongkorn, who was born on this day in 1952.

Asahna Bucha Day- July 29th

It marks the day when the Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to his five disciples, which led to The first Buddhist monk, the completion of the Triple Gem: Buddha, Dhamma (teachings), and Sangha (monastic community).

Observed on the full moon of the 8th lunar month, usually in July, and is a National Holiday.

On Asahna Bucha Day, most Thai Buddhists will visit their local wat (temple) to make merit. One way of doing this is by donating candles to the temple. This ancient tradition dates back long before the advent of electricity when monks living in the temple relied on candlelight to see them through the darker days of the rainy season. The most famous of the candle festivals is held in the north-east city of Ubon Ratchathani. 

Wan Khao Phansa– July 30th

The day after Asahna Bucha is known as Wan Khao Phansa and marks the start of the three-month ‘Phansa‘ period. This is the rains retreat period when monks would traditionally stay within the confines of their own temple. The Phansa retreat period is sometimes referred to as ‘Buddhist Lent’.

Birthday Of The Queen Mother Sirikit (Mothers Day)- August 12th

Mother’s Day (Wan Mae) is celebrated each year on August 12, the birthday of Queen Mother Sirikit. Well-known for her charity work, the Queen Mother is the honorary president of the Thai Red Cross.

Phuket Por Tor Festival- August 19th

Por Tor or the ‘Hungry Ghost’ festival, is an important merit-making event for the ethnic Chinese. Special food, flowers, and candles are offered to ancestors on altars. Other offerings are made to ‘feed the ghosts without relatives’ that are said to have been released from hell for the month.

Experience this beautiful event for yourself at any Chinese Shrine on the island, or head to Seng Tek Bel Shrine on Phuket Road and the fresh market on Ranong Road to enjoy two of the biggest Hungry Ghost celebrations in Phuket. The Hungry Ghost Festival showcases a rich tradition in Phuket, with a variety of activities taking place at all of the Chinese shrines across the island. 

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day– October 13th

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.

 Awk Phansa- End Of October

This marks the end of Buddhist Lent in Thailand. Celebrates the end of Khao Phansa, the 3-month rainy-season retreat when monks stay in their monasteries. It symbolizes the Buddha’s return to Earth after teaching in heaven (according to tradition).

Observed on the full moon of the 11th lunar month, it is celebrated by Merit-making and temple visits, Evening candlelight processions (Wian Tian) at many temples, and offerings to monks, including robes and daily necessities.

Loy Krathong/ Yi Peng Lantern Festival– November 24th-25th

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Holiday is arguably the best time of the year in Thailand. Many tourists plan their trip around this holiday, as it is one of the most colorful, festive, and fun times in Thailand. Both coincide with each other, lasting two days in most cities. Depending on what day it falls on, the night before can also be a lot of fun with public activities in Chiang Mai.

There are many excellent spots to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand. Bangkok, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, and Phuket each have their own unique  blend of traditional and modern celebrations.

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. 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.

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.

Make sure if you are celebrating in Chiang Mai or Bangkok to book your hotels early. Especially in Chiang Mai it gets full and expensive. There are lots of free activities to do in Chiang Mai.

Resources

Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.

Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.

Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes. 

12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.

This page contains links to affiliate partner websites, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure Page.