What Are The Top 10 Festivals Celebrated In Thailand?

Top 10 Festivals in Thailand

Thailand is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant festivals, and unique traditions. Throughout the year, the country celebrates numerous festivals that showcase its colorful culture, deep-rooted traditions, and warm hospitality. Here are ten (10) of the biggest Thai festivals celebrated annually.

TRAVEL BANKING
USE WISE LIKE A BANK

With Wise, you can hold money in 40+ currencies, and convert between them at the real exchange rate whenever you need. It’s free to sign up, and there are no monthly fees.

You can get account details for USD, GBP, EUR, THB, AUD*, NZD, CAD, HUF, RON**, and SGD — with more currencies on the way. Share these details with your friends, companies or customers to get money from around the world. You can also receive money without sharing your bank details.

You can send money from your Wise balance to a bank account outside of Wise whenever you like. We’ll charge a fixed fee and a conversion fee when you send to a different currency. Sending and receiving money between Wise Accounts in the same currency is free. 

You can spend money in different currencies around the world with the Wise card and get low conversion fees — check this on our pricing page For the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Best Festivals in Thailand

Thailand is known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant festivals, each offering a unique experience and insight into the Thai way of life. Here’s a list of the ten best festivals in Thailand that you shouldn’t miss.

1. Songkran (Thai New Year Water Festival)

When: April 13-15
Where: Nationwide, with major celebrations in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Pattaya

Songkran is the most famous and widely celebrated festival in Thailand, marking the Thai New Year. The highlight of Songkran is the water fights, where locals and tourists alike splash water on each other to wash away the old year and welcome the new one. The festival also involves traditional activities such as visiting temples, offering food to monks, and paying respects to elders.

2. Loy Krathong

When: November (on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month)
Where: Nationwide, with spectacular celebrations in Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok

Loy Krathong is one of the most picturesque festivals in Thailand. People create small floats (krathongs) decorated with flowers, candles, and incense, and release them onto rivers, lakes, and canals to pay respect to the water spirits and seek forgiveness for any misdeeds. The festival is often accompanied by traditional dance performances, lantern releases, and fireworks.

3. Yi Peng Lantern Festival

When: November (usually coinciding with Loy Krathong)
Where: Chiang Mai

Yi Peng is celebrated primarily in northern Thailand and involves the release of thousands of lanterns into the sky, creating a breathtaking sight. The festival symbolizes letting go of misfortunes and making wishes for the future. Temple visits, traditional Lanna cultural performances, and parades also mark Yi Peng.

4. Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)

When: June or July (dates vary)
Where: Dan Sai, Loei Province

Phi Ta Khon is a unique and colorful festival combining religious traditions, local legends, and playful festivities. Participants dress in ghostly costumes and masks and parade through the streets in a lively and somewhat spooky celebration. The festival includes music, dance, and a merit-making ceremony at the local temple.

5. Chinese New Year

When: January or February (dates vary based on the lunar calendar)
Where: Major celebrations in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Phuket, and other cities with significant Chinese communities

Chinese New Year is a major festival for Thailand’s Chinese community, marked by vibrant lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and feasts. Families gather to honor their ancestors and deities, exchange red envelopes (ang pao) with money, and enjoy traditional Chinese delicacies.

6. Visakha Bucha Day

When: May (on the full moon of the sixth lunar month)
Where: Nationwide

Visakha Bucha Day is one of the most important Buddhist holidays, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. Devout Buddhists participate in merit-making activities, visit temples, offer food to monks, and join candlelight processions. It is a day of reflection and spiritual observance.

7. Vegetarian Festival

When: October (dates vary based on the lunar calendar)
Where: Phuket, Bangkok, and other cities with significant Chinese communities

The Vegetarian Festival, especially prominent in Phuket, is a nine-day event where participants observe a strict vegetarian diet to purify their bodies and minds. The festival is known for its extreme rituals, such as fire-walking, body piercing, and other acts of self-mortification performed by spirit mediums to invoke divine protection.

8. Boon Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)

When: May
Where: Yasothon and other provinces in the Isaan region

The Rocket Festival is a traditional event where homemade rockets are launched into the sky to encourage the gods to bring rain for the upcoming rice-planting season. The festival features colorful parades, music, dance, and local competitions. It is a lively and community-focused event filled with fun and excitement.

9. Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival

When: July (coinciding with Asahna Bucha and the beginning of Buddhist Lent)
Where: Ubon Ratchathani

The Candle Festival starts the Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) and features elaborate candle sculptures paraded through the streets. These intricately carved candles are often the result of months of preparation and showcase scenes from Buddhist mythology. The festival includes traditional music, dance, and a display of local craftsmanship.

10. New Year

When: December 31 - January 1
Where: Nationwide, with major celebrations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket

New Year in Thailand is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy, marking the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one. While the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran, is celebrated in April, the Western New Year on January 1st has become an important event nationwide.

DID YOU KNOW?
You can get your Thai eSim card before you arrive…

Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices. You can grab your esim on the go before you arrive to Thailand to save expensive mistakes upon your arrival.