Songkran 2026 Water Gun Rules: What Is Banned and What Can Get You Fined

Songkran Rules Are Getting Stricter

Songkran, Thailand's famous water festival and traditional New Year celebration, runs from April 13 to 15 in 2026. While the festival remains one of the most exciting events in Southeast Asia, the Royal Thai Police are enforcing tighter safety rules this year. Tourists who ignore them risk fines of up to 70,000 baht or even jail time.

Here is what you need to know before you join the water fights. For a full overview of where to celebrate and what to expect, see our Songkran Festival 2026 guide.

What Is Banned

High-pressure PVC water guns are the main target. These homemade blasters, built from PVC pipes and powered by air pumps, can shoot water with enough force to cause serious eye injuries. They are banned nationwide during Songkran, and police have the authority to confiscate them on the spot.

Standard commercially sold water guns — the plastic ones you buy at 7-Eleven or street stalls — are perfectly fine.

Other banned activities during Songkran include:

• Throwing water from moving vehicles. Many city centres, including Bangkok, have banned this to reduce road fatalities.
• Using dirty water or ice. Only clean water is permitted during water play. Throwing ice blocks or mixing anything into the water is illegal.
• Drinking alcohol on vehicles. Passengers in the back of pickup trucks — a common Songkran sight — are not allowed to drink while the vehicle is moving.

Who You Should Never Splash

Even during the wildest water battles, there are people you should never target:

• Monks — splashing a monk is culturally offensive and can result in confrontation
• Babies and pregnant women — for obvious safety reasons
• The elderly — many older Thais observe Songkran as a quiet spiritual occasion, not a water fight
• People on moving motorcycles — this causes accidents and can result in criminal charges

Enforcement Reality

Despite the rules, enforcement varies by location. Pattaya authorities have repeatedly warned they will confiscate high-pressure water guns, but the devices remain widely available from street vendors. In Bangkok, enforcement tends to be stricter, particularly around Khaosan Road and Silom, where police set up checkpoints.

The safest approach is to buy a regular water gun, play in designated festival zones, and follow the common-sense rules.

Where to Celebrate Safely

The biggest organised Songkran events in 2026 include:

• Khaosan Road, Bangkok — the backpacker epicentre with police presence and CCTV monitoring
• Silom Edge, Bangkok — the largest organised water fight zone in the city
• Siam Songkran Music Festival — the massive stadium Songkran party in Bangkok
• S2O Songkran Music Festival — international EDM acts with massive water cannons
• Chiang Mai moat area — the traditional northern celebration with gentler water play
• Pattaya Beach Road — the loudest, most chaotic option with extended celebrations
• Andamanda Phuket pool party — the island's biggest organised water event
• Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan — the unique Mon-culture Songkran near Bangkok

Stick to these designated zones, bring a waterproof phone pouch, and leave valuables at your hotel. Songkran is still one of the best festival experiences in the world — just know the rules before you splash. Celebrations take place across all 76 provinces, and airlines are running Songkran discount flights to make travel easier.