Thinking of visiting Thailand in 2026? This guide lays out the full list of official public holidays in Thailand so you can easily plan around the country’s busiest dates. You’ll also find a few standout festivals worth timing your trip for, from culture-rich celebrations to dazzling seasonal events that give your journey an extra layer of meaning.

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References:

• Vietnam Public Holiday 2026
• Cambodia Public Holiday 2026
• Laos Public Holiday 2026
• Thailand Basic Phrases for Travelers

2026 Thailand Public Holiday Calendar

For the year 2026, Thailand recognizes 16 public holidays that include traditional festivities, national celebrations, and significant cultural occasions. The specific dates are outlined as follows:

Holiday Name	Date	Day	Significance of the Holiday
New Year’s Day	Jan 1-2	Thu-Fri	Celebrates the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year
Makha Bucha	March 3	Tue	Important Buddhist day commemorating the Buddha’s sermon to his disciples
Chakri Day	Apr 6	Mon	Honors the founding of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand
Songkran (Thai New Year)	Apr 13 – 15	Mon – Wed	Traditional Thai New Year celebrated with water splashing and rituals
Labor Day	May 1	Fri	Recognizes workers and labor rights
Coronation Day	May 4	Mon	Commemorates the coronation of the reigning king
Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day	May 11	Mon	Marks the start of the rice-growing season with royal rituals
Queen Suthida’s Birthday	Jun 3	Wed	Celebrates the birthday of Queen Suthida
King Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday	Jul 28	Tue	Honors the birthday of the current King of Thailand
Asahna Bucha Day	Jul 29	Wed	Commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon
The Queen’s Birthday/ Mother’s Day	Aug 12	Wed	Honors the Queen Mother and celebrates motherhood
Anniversary of the Death of King Bhumibol	Oct 13	Tue	Remembers the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Chulalongkorn Day	Oct 23	Fri	Honors King Rama V for his reforms and modernization of Thailand
King Bhumibol’s Birthday/Father’s Day	Dec 5 – 7	Sat – Mon	Honors the late king and celebrates fatherhood
Constitution Day	Dec 10	Thu	Commemorates the adoption of Thailand’s constitution
New Year’s Eve	Dec 31	Thu	Marks the final day of the Gregorian calendar year

Meaning of Each Holiday

• New Year’s Day: Beginning of the world’s new year
• Makha Bucha: A significant Buddhist festival celebrated a spontaneous assembly of 1,250 monks who gathered to listen to the teachings of Buddha.
• Chakri Day: Honors the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty in Thailand by King Rama I. It is a day of remembrance for the contributions of the Chakri monarchs.
• Songkran: Thailand’s traditional New Year festival celebrated in April. It is famous for its water fights and represents the cleansing of the old year and welcoming the new with good fortune.
• Labor Day: Global celebration of workers
• Coronation Day: Commemorates the crowning of King Vajiralongkorn in 2019
• Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day: This agricultural ceremony symbolizes the start of the rice-growing season. The ceremony involves the symbolic plowing of a field by royal oxen.
• Queen Suthida’s Birthday: Honoring the Thailand Queen Suthida, the birthday celebration on June 3rd is a time for expressing admiration and well-wishes for the Queen.
• Buddhist Lent Day: This is a three-month period of intensive meditation and reflection for monks.
• King vajiralongkorn’s Birthday: This day honors the reigning monarch, King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
• The Queen’s Birthday: This day honors the birthday of Queen Sirikit (mother of King Vajiralongkorn).
• Anniversary of the Death of King Bhumibol: commemorates the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (father of King Vajiralongkorn)
• Chulalongkorn Day: Commemorates the death of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). It is a day to recognize his modernization efforts and reforms.
• King Bhumibol’s Birthday/Father’s Day: The day is dedicated to celebrating the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is also observed as Father’s Day in Thailand.
• Constitution Day: commemorating the adoption of Thailand’s first constitution in 1932

Cultural Festivals Worth Experiencing

We’ve highlighted a selection of Thailand’s most vibrant festivals in 2026, each offering its own atmosphere, flavors, and traditions. Join any of these celebrations, and your journey naturally becomes richer, more colorful, and truly unforgettable.

Songkran (Thai New Year’s Day, 13 to 15 April 2026)

Songkran gives travelers a chance to step into the heart of Thai New Year traditions. You might start the day by watching locals pour scented water over Buddha statues, then join families offering blessings to elders. As the celebrations grow louder, you can dive straight into the citywide water play, where streets turn into one giant festival. Chiang Mai offers deep-rooted rituals, Bangkok delivers lively fun, and the ancient cities of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya let you enjoy Songkran in a more historic atmosphere.

Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival, 26 to 28 June 2026)

This festival welcomes visitors into a world of folk stories and playful chaos. In Dan Sai, you can follow the procession of villagers dressed in bright ghost masks, listen to traditional music echoing through the streets, and join the crowd as dancers spin and joke with everyone passing by. The whole experience feels like being dropped into a vibrant village celebration where spiritual rituals and creativity blend into something truly unique.

Asanha Bucha and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent, 29 July 2026)

For travelers looking for a more contemplative cultural moment, this is one of the most meaningful times to visit. You can observe temple ceremonies that mark the Buddha’s first sermon, then stay to see candlelit processions slowly encircling temple grounds. The start of Buddhist Lent brings a calm, spiritual energy, and many visitors take the opportunity to join locals in making merit or simply sit quietly to absorb the atmosphere.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival (25 November 2026)

Yi Peng brings one of Thailand’s most breathtaking sights to life, inviting travelers to join a sky filled with glowing lanterns. As night settles in, you can release your own khom loi and watch it rise slowly into the dark among thousands of drifting lights. Many people write their wishes on the lantern and send them to the sky, believing that these quiet hopes may gently come true.

Conclusion

Even on regular days, Thailand offers more than enough charm to fill any itinerary. But visiting during these festive periods gives your journey an extra layer of colour and meaning, letting you see local life at its most spirited. Hope this helps spark a few ideas for your future trip!

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