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Thailand festivals and events 2027: month-by-month calendar

Thailand's year is set by two calendars. Royal and civic holidays fall on fixed dates, while the Buddhist holy days and the big lantern festivals follow the moon and move every year. This calendar gives the 2027 dates that have been published, explains which festivals are still waiting for their date, and says what each one means for a trip, from the water fights of Songkran to the floating lights of Loi Krathong.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated Facts checked 5 min read
A man with a water gun soaking a tuk-tuk passing through a wet street in Chiang Mai at Songkran
Nobody stays dry at Songkran, not even in a tuk-tuk.
Suggested time
Most holidays are single days; Songkran's core is three days, and local festival programmes often run longer.
Where to stay
Chiang Mai for Songkran and Yi Peng, Sukhothai for its Loi Krathong candle festival, Ubon Ratchathani for the Buddhist Lent candle parade, Bangkok's Yaowarat for Chinese New Year.
Season and timing
Songkran falls in the hottest month; Loi Krathong and Yi Peng come in November, in the cool, dry season.

The short answer

The biggest festival of 2027 is Songkran, the Thai New Year, on 13-15 April, when the country celebrates with water fights and family visits; book transport and rooms early, especially for Chiang Mai. Loi Krathong and Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lantern festival fall at the full moon in November; their exact 2027 date has not been announced yet. Buddhist holy days fall on 21 February, 20 May and 18 July in 2027.

How to read this calendar

When we checked in October 2026, the Thai government had not yet published its general 2027 holiday list. The holiday dates below come from the 2027 holiday calendar published by Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which lists the official holidays and substitute days for its sector. That makes the dates reliable, but it does not tell you what else closes: on a public holiday, shops, markets and sights may or may not open as usual, so check the places you care about.

Lunar festivals are different. Chinese New Year comes from the Chinese calendar, and Loi Krathong and Yi Peng follow the Thai lunar calendar, which had not been published for 2027. For those we give the usual timing and say where the exact date is still to come.

January and February: New Year, Chinese New Year and Makha Bucha

New Year's Day, Friday 1 January, is a public holiday.

Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027. Bangkok's Chinatown, Yaowarat, and Thai-Chinese communities in other towns celebrate with parades, ceremonies, performances and food; the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) describes these each year, though the 2027 programmes are not out yet.

Makha Bucha, a Buddhist holy day, falls on Sunday 21 February, with Monday 22 February as the substitute holiday.

Children and adults throwing buckets of water at each other in a street during Songkran in Chiang Mai
Water fights in Chiang Mai at Songkran.

March and April: Chakri Day and Songkran

March has no holiday or major festival in this calendar.

Chakri Memorial Day, Tuesday 6 April, commemorates King Rama I and the founding of the Chakri dynasty.

Songkran, the Thai New Year, runs from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April; some towns run their programmes for longer. It mixes family visits and merit-making at temples with the famous water fights in the streets. Expect to get soaked if you go out, and keep your phone in a waterproof pouch. TAT says trains, planes, buses and hotels can be booked up months in advance, especially for Chiang Mai, so book early if you want to be there, or to travel at all, that week.

May and June: Coronation Day, Visakha Bucha and the Queen's birthday

Coronation Day falls on Tuesday 4 May and Visakha Bucha, the Buddhist holy day marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, on Thursday 20 May.

Queen Suthida's Birthday, Thursday 3 June, is a public holiday.

Hundreds of glowing paper lanterns rising over a crowd at night during Yi Peng in Chiang Mai
Sky lanterns at a Yi Peng event in Chiang Mai.

July: Asarnha Bucha, Buddhist Lent and the Ubon candle parade

Asarnha Bucha falls on Sunday 18 July, with Monday 19 July as the substitute holiday.

Khao Phansa, the start of Buddhist Lent, comes the day after, which should be 19 July in 2027. Temples across the country mark it, and Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast is known for its parade of huge carved candles, one of several TAT names. Celebrations can last several days; the Ubon programme for 2027 has not been announced.

King Vajiralongkorn's Birthday, Wednesday 28 July, is a public holiday.

August to October: Mother's Day and Chulalongkorn Day

Thursday 12 August is the birthday of Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, celebrated as Mother's Day.

September has no holiday in this calendar.

Chulalongkorn Day falls on Saturday 23 October, with Monday 25 October as the substitute holiday.

Two people holding small lit krathong offerings beside water crowded with floating flowers at night
Lit krathong ready to float at Loi Krathong.

November: Loi Krathong, Yi Peng and Sukhothai's candle festival

Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, normally in November. People float small offerings of leaves, flowers and candles on rivers and ponds across the country. The exact 2027 date had not been published when we checked, and local programmes often run over several days around it.

In Chiang Mai and the north, the same full moon brings Yi Peng, the Lanna lantern festival, with lantern decorations, traditional Lanna clothes and processions. Some events release sky lanterns, but TAT says releases follow guidelines on times and places, so do not expect to launch one anywhere you like.

Sukhothai's Loi Krathong and Candle Festival is one of the best known regional celebrations, held in the old royal capital in the same November season.

December: Constitution Day and New Year's Eve

Constitution Day falls on Friday 10 December and New Year's Eve, Friday 31 December, is also on the holiday list, giving a long New Year weekend into 1 January 2028.

Practical questions

When is Songkran 2027?

From Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027; some towns celebrate for longer. Book transport and rooms early, especially for Chiang Mai.

When is Loi Krathong 2027?

On the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, normally in November. The exact 2027 date had not been published in October 2026.

When is Yi Peng in Chiang Mai in 2027?

At the same November full moon as Loi Krathong. The 2027 date and programme had not been announced in October 2026, and sky lantern releases follow official guidelines on times and places.

Do shops close on Thai public holidays?

Not as a rule we could confirm. The 2027 holiday dates come from an official calendar for financial businesses; whether a market, shop or sight opens depends on the place, so check it.

When is Chinese New Year 2027 in Thailand?

Saturday 6 February 2027. Bangkok's Yaowarat holds the best known celebrations, with parades, performances and food.

Which Buddhist holidays fall in 2027?

Makha Bucha on 21 February (substitute day 22 February), Visakha Bucha on 20 May and Asarnha Bucha on 18 July (substitute day 19 July), with Buddhist Lent starting the day after Asarnha Bucha.

Sources and checks before you travel

Reference sources for the version dated 22 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.

Editorial policy →

Photo credits

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