Thailand Events & Festivals

There are countless festivals and special events held in Thailand throughout the year. Some of these are celebrated nationwide (e.g. Songkran and Loy Krathong) whilst other festivals are specific to particular cities or provinces. With a number of Thai festivals and Buddhist holidays, the exact date varies each year because it depends on the lunar calendar and the night of the full moon. Listed below are some of the best-known annual Thai festivals and special events. The dates listed here are not public holidays in Thailand unless stated. Please note that dates of local festivals may be liable to change whilst others are still waiting for dates to be confirmed.
Dates of public holidays in Thailand, 2018 »

January

• New Year’s Day (public holiday) – January 1
• Children’s Day – second Saturday in January (January 13, 2018)
• Bo Sang Umbrella and Sankampaeng Handicrafts Festival, Chiang Mai – usually third weekend in January (January 19-21, 2018)

February

• Chiang Mai Flower Festival – usually held on the first weekend in February (February 2-4, 2018)
• Valentine’s Day – February 14
• Trang Underwater Wedding – Valentine’s Day. Events in Trang Town and Ko Kradan (February 13-15)
• Chinese Lunar New Year – date falls in January/February. Celebrated in many areas of Thailand, but particularly in the Chinatown districts of Bangkok and Chiang Mai as well as Phuket and Trang (February 16, 2018 – Year of the Dog)
• Burapa Bike Week, Pattaya – mid-February. Regarded as the biggest gathering of motorbike enthusiasts in South-east Asia (February 9-10, 2018)
• Phuket International Blues Rock Festival – mid/late February

Chiang Mai Flower Festival

March

• Makha Bucha Day (public holiday) – date falls in February/March (March 1, 2018)
• National Elephant Day – March 13
• National Muay Thai Day – March 17. Ayutthaya hosts the Martial Arts Festival and Wai Khru Ceremony and smaller events and ceremonies are held at various Thai boxing gyms and venues in Thailand
• Pattaya International Music Festival – mid/late-March

April

• Poy Sang Long Festival – various locations around north Thailand, particularly in Mae Hong Son (late March/early April)
• Chakri Day (public holiday) – April 6
• Songkran Thai New Year Water Festival (public holiday) – April 13-15
• Wan Lai Festival – mid-April at locations in Chonburi province including Pattaya (2018 dates: April 16-17 in Bang Saen and April 18-19 in Pattaya)
• Phuket Bike Week – mid-April (2018 dates: April 11-14 at Patong Beach and April 20-21 in Phuket Town)

Songkran Thai New Year Water Festival

May

• Labour Day (public holiday) – May 1
• Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Bangkok – date usually falls in May
  
• Rocket Festivals, Isaan – mid/late May. Various local events in areas of north-east Thailand with the most famous being the the ‘Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival’ at Yasothon (Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival in Yasothon, May 11-13, 2018)
• Chiang Mai Inthakin City Pillar Festival – date usually falls in May
• Ko Samui Yacht Regatta – held in May/June
  
• Visakha Bucha Day (public holiday) – date falls in May/June (May 29, 2018)
• Hua Hin Jazz Festival – usually held in May/June

June

• Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival, Dan Sai, Loei (June 16-18, 2018)

July

• Asahna Bucha Day (public holiday) – date usually falls in July/early-August (July 27, 2018)
• Khao Phansa – falls on the day after Asahna Bucha (July 28, 2018)
• Birthday of H.M King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) – July 28 (public holiday)
• Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival – held during July and associated with Asahna Bucha and Buddhist Lent
• Phuket Yachting Race Week – mid/late July

August

• H.M. Queen’s Birthday (public holiday) also celebrated as Mother’s Day – August 12
• Por Tor Hungry Ghost Festival, Phuket – held August/September

September

• Thai National Flag Day – September 28

October

• Commemorating the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) – October 13 (public holiday)
• Buffalo Racing Festival, Chonburi – held in October/November (probable date in 2018 is October 23)
• Chulalongkorn Day (public holiday) – October 23
• Awk Phansa (marks the end of Buddhist Lent) – usually in October (probable date in 2018 is October 24)
• Naga Fireballs, Nong Khai
• Vegetarian Festival – usually takes place in September/October. Celebrated at various locations in Thailand including Phuket, Trang, Krabi, Bangkok and Chiang Mai

November

• Loy Krathong – date usually falls in November (probable date in 2018 is November 23 – to be confirmed)
• Yi Peng Lantern Festival, Chiang Mai – held to coincide with Loy Krathong (probable dates in 2018 are November 22-24 – to be confirmed)
• Elephant Round-up Festival, Surin – third weekend in November
• Monkey Banquet Festival, Lopburi – last Sunday in November

Loy Krathong Festival

December

• King Bhumibol Birthday Commemoration Day (public holiday) the day on which HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born is also celebrated as Father’s Day (from 2017, the day will also mark National Day) – December 5
• Constitution Day (public holiday) – December 10
• Concert in the Park, Bangkok
  Outdoor concert season begins in Lumphini Park, Bangkok. Free entertainment courtesy of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Concerts on most Sundays from mid-December through to the end of February.
• New Year’s Eve (public holiday if it falls on a weekday) – December 31. New Year Countdown events held at various locations in Thailand including Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya

Click here for a list of national public holidays in Thailand for 2018 »