📅 Thailand Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day (วันขึ้นปีใหม่) | Public |
| 3 Mar 2026 · Tue | Makha Bucha (วันมาฆบูชา) | Religious |
| 6 Apr 2026 · Mon | Chakri Memorial Day (วันจักรี) | Public |
| 13 Apr 2026 · Mon | Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์) | Public |
| 14 Apr 2026 · Tue | Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์) | Public |
| 15 Apr 2026 · Wed | Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์) | Public |
| 4 May 2026 · Mon | Coronation Day (วันฉัตรมงคล) | Public |
| 31 May 2026 · Sun | Vesak Day (วันวิสาขบูชา) | Religious |
| 3 Jun 2026 · Wed | Queen Suthida's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาสมเด็จพระราชินี) | Public |
| 28 Jul 2026 · Tue | King's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว) | Public |
| 29 Jul 2026 · Wed | Asalha Puja (วันอาสาฬหบูชา) | Religious |
| 30 Jul 2026 · Thu | Buddhist Lent (วันเข้าพรรษา) | Religious |
| 12 Aug 2026 · Wed | The Queen Mother's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) | Public |
| 13 Oct 2026 · Tue | King Bhumibol Memorial Day (วันคล้ายวันสวรรคต รัชกาลที่ 9) | Public |
| 23 Oct 2026 · Fri | King Chulalongkorn Day (วันปิยมหาราช) | Public |
| 5 Dec 2026 · Sat | King Bhumibol's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา รัชกาลที่ 9) | Public |
| 10 Dec 2026 · Thu | Constitution Day (วันรัฐธรรมนูญ) | Public |
| 31 Dec 2026 · Thu | New Year's Eve (วันสิ้นปี) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day (วันขึ้นปีใหม่) | Public |
| 21 Feb 2027 · Sun | Makha Bucha (วันมาฆบูชา) | Religious |
| 6 Apr 2027 · Tue | Chakri Memorial Day (วันจักรี) | Public |
| 13 Apr 2027 · Tue | Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์) | Public |
| 14 Apr 2027 · Wed | Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์) | Public |
| 15 Apr 2027 · Thu | Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์) | Public |
| 4 May 2027 · Tue | Coronation Day (วันฉัตรมงคล) | Public |
| 20 May 2027 · Thu | Vesak Day (วันวิสาขบูชา) | Religious |
| 3 Jun 2027 · Thu | Queen Suthida's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาสมเด็จพระราชินี) | Public |
| 18 Jul 2027 · Sun | Asalha Puja (วันอาสาฬหบูชา) | Religious |
| 19 Jul 2027 · Mon | Buddhist Lent (วันเข้าพรรษา) | Religious |
| 28 Jul 2027 · Wed | King's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว) | Public |
| 12 Aug 2027 · Thu | The Queen Mother's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง) | Public |
| 13 Oct 2027 · Wed | King Bhumibol Memorial Day (วันคล้ายวันสวรรคต รัชกาลที่ 9) | Public |
| 23 Oct 2027 · Sat | King Chulalongkorn Day (วันปิยมหาราช) | Public |
| 5 Dec 2027 · Sun | King Bhumibol's Birthday (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา รัชกาลที่ 9) | Public |
| 10 Dec 2027 · Fri | Constitution Day (วันรัฐธรรมนูญ) | Public |
| 31 Dec 2027 · Fri | New Year's Eve (วันสิ้นปี) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
Thailand mixes secular and Buddhist holidays, and when one falls on a weekend a substitute day off usually follows, so check how the extra day lands. Alcohol sales tend to be restricted on the Buddhist holy days such as Makha Bucha, Vesak and Asalha Puja, which regularly catches first-time visitors out. Banks and government offices close on public holidays, while malls, markets and attractions largely keep trading. Three events are worth building a trip around, and none of them are about opening hours: Songkran, Loy Krathong and the King’s Birthday.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Songkran Festival — Mon 13 – Wed 15 April 2026
Songkran is the Thai New Year and the biggest water fight on earth. Chiang Mai’s moat-side roads are the epicentre, with Bangkok’s Silom and Khao San Road running for days. Put your phone in a dry bag, expect to be soaked before noon, and book Chiang Mai hotels months ahead. The gentler tradition survives alongside: scented water poured over the hands of elders at temples.
Loy Krathong — Mon 23 – Wed 25 November 2026, full-moon night Tue 24 November
Loy Krathong floats banana-leaf baskets with a candle and incense onto every river, pond and canal in the country. Chiang Mai adds Yi Peng at the same time, when thousands of paper sky lanterns go up — and the licensed mass releases outside the city sell out weeks ahead. Bangkok and Sukhothai are excellent alternatives if you would rather skip ticketing.
King's Birthday — Tue 28 July 2026
The King’s Birthday brings ceremonies, merit-making and yellow everywhere, with Bangkok lighting up its ceremonial avenues and riverfront around the date. It is a quieter, more local celebration than Songkran, and a good excuse to be in the capital. Expect government offices and banks closed, alcohol restrictions on nearby Buddhist days, and crowds around the old town in the evening.
Vegetarian Festival — October 2026 — nine days in Phuket, dates set by the ninth lunar month
Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is nine days of white clothing, temple processions and firecrackers, with devotees performing piercings that are not for the faint-hearted. The streets around the Chinese shrines in Phuket Town become one long parade route and the island’s hotel rates climb. If that sounds like too much, Bangkok’s Chinatown observes the same period far more quietly.
💡 Quick Tips
- Banks and government offices close on public holidays, while malls, markets and almost all tourist sites keep normal hours.
- Expect alcohol sales to be restricted on the Buddhist holy days of Makha Bucha, Vesak, Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent, including in many hotels.
- Songkran and the New Year are the two weeks Thais travel en masse — book intercity trains, buses and domestic flights early.
- Dress respectfully at temple festivals: covered shoulders and knees, and shoes off inside ordination halls.
⚡ Pro Tips
- For Songkran stay inside Chiang Mai’s moat so you can walk out of the door into the water and back for a dry shirt.
- The free riverside spots at Loy Krathong fill by sunset — arrive two hours early in Bangkok, or take a boat and watch from the water.
- Buy Yi Peng tickets only through official organisers; the licensed releases outside Chiang Mai usually sell out weeks ahead.
📋 Summary
Every Thai public holiday and Buddhist holy day for 2026 and 2027, plus the four celebrations worth building a trip around: Songkran in April, Loy Krathong and the Chiang Mai sky lanterns in November, the King’s Birthday illuminations in July, and the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everything closed on Thai public holidays?
No, very little shuts. Supermarkets, malls, night markets, museums ruins sites and restaurants generally trade as normal and sometimes stay open longer. Government offices and banks do close, and alcohol sales are restricted on Buddhist holy days, which can affect bars and convenience stores.
When is Songkran and where is the best place to celebrate?
The official holiday runs 13 to 15 April in both 2026 and 2027, though many towns start their celebrations a day or two early. Chiang Mai is the pick if you want several days of it, with the moat circuit as the main arena. Bangkok’s Silom and Khao San Road are easier to bolt onto a city trip, while smaller towns offer the gentler, traditional version.
Why can I not buy alcohol on some Thai holidays?
Alcohol sales are generally suspended on the Buddhist holy days of Makha Bucha, Vesak, Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent, and sometimes on additional days announced locally. In practice this can mean hotel bars, restaurants and convenience stores refusing to serve you. It is worth checking before you plan a beach day around a cold beer.
