January or February
Chinese New Year
Red lanterns, lion dances and huge street-food crowds in Chinatown.
Home / Festival calendar
🏮 Festival calendar
Thailand's biggest festivals by month — and where to stay for them.
Early February (first weekend)
Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Flower-covered parade floats and gardens in full bloom.
13–15 April
Songkran (Thai New Year)
The nationwide water festival. Expect to get soaked — bring a waterproof phone pouch!
May
Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival
Homemade rockets fired into the sky to call the rains — loud and joyful.
June or July
Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival
Colourful ghost masks, music and parades in a small mountain town.
July (start of Buddhist Lent)
Candle Festival
Giant, intricately carved wax sculptures paraded through the city.
September or October
Vegetarian Festival
Nine days of vegetarian food and dramatic street processions.
November (full moon)
Loy Krathong
Float a candle-lit krathong to let go of bad luck. Beautiful in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.
November (with Loy Krathong)
Yi Peng Lantern Festival
Thousands of lanterns released into the night sky. Book hotels early.
Monthly, around the full moon
Full Moon Party
The famous beach party — take a boat from Koh Samui.