The four big festivals for a visitor
- Chinese New Year (January-February): Yaowarat turns into a huge street party. In 2027, Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February. The programme of the Chinatown festival has not yet been published. See the page on Chinese New Year in Bangkok.
- Songkran (April): the Thai New Year and its water fights, a public holiday from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027. See the page Songkran in Bangkok.
- Vegetarian Festival (late September or October): nine to ten days of "jay" food on Yaowarat Road. In 2026, from 10 to 18 October. See the page on the Bangkok Vegetarian Festival.
- Loy Krathong (November): krathongs are floated on the water at the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, on Tuesday 24 November 2026 and Saturday 13 November 2027. See the page Loy Krathong in Bangkok.
Month by month
| Month | Event | Dates 2026-2027 |
|---|---|---|
| January | New Year's Day (1 January) | Friday 1 January 2027 |
| February | Chinese New Year; Makha Bucha | 6 February 2027; 21 February 2027 (Sunday), holiday moved to Monday 22 |
| April | Chakri Day; Songkran | 6 April 2027; 13-15 April 2027 |
| May | Coronation Day; Visakha Bucha | 4 May 2027; 20 May 2027 |
| July | Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa; the King's birthday | 18 and 19 July 2027; 28 July 2027 |
| August | Queen Mother's birthday | 12 August 2027 |
| October | Vegetarian Festival; King Bhumibol Memorial Day; Chulalongkorn Day | 10-18 October 2026; 13 October 2027; 23 October 2027 |
| November | Loy Krathong | 24 November 2026; 13 November 2027 |
| December | Father's Day; Constitution Day; New Year's Eve | 5-6 December 2027; 10 December 2027; 31 December 2027 |
The 2027 public holiday dates are those announced by the Thai press after the Bank of Thailand published its calendar in August 2026; they apply differently to banks, government offices and private companies.
Buddhist days: calm and ceremonies
Four days follow the Buddhist lunar calendar: Makha Bucha (February), Visakha Bucha (May), Asalha Bucha (July) and Khao Phansa (the next day, the start of the monks' rains retreat). They are days of reflection: temples hold candlelit processions in the evening and worshippers make offerings. For a visitor, they mainly mean closed banks and busier temples; visiting is still possible, with the usual dress. See our tips on Thai etiquette.
Around Loy Krathong, Wat Saket (the Golden Mount) holds its big seven-day, seven-night fair every year, with stalls and a candlelit procession.
Royal public holidays
Several public holidays celebrate the royal family: Coronation Day (4 May), the King's birthday (28 July), the Queen Mother's birthday (12 August), King Bhumibol Memorial Day (13 October) and his birthday, Father's Day (5 December). On those days government offices and banks are closed; places to visit generally stay open, but check the hours on each venue's website, as official ceremonies can disrupt access.
What to check before choosing your dates
- Hotels and flights: Songkran, Chinese New Year and Western New Year fill the hotels; book early.
- Banks and offices: closed on public holidays (see above). Withdraw cash before a long weekend; our advice is in the guide to paying in Bangkok.
- Weather: April is the hottest month, and the rainy season runs roughly from May to October; see the best time to visit Bangkok.
- Programmes: official programmes (Songkran 2027, Chinese New Year 2027, Loy Krathong 2026) are announced a few weeks ahead; our pages describe the previous editions in the meantime.
Going further
For activities that do not depend on a calendar, see what to do in Bangkok in one day and free activities. Temple and museum prices, useful for budgeting a festival stay, are in our guide to admission prices in Bangkok.
