Thailand Festivalkalender 2026
Elk Festival Waard om een Reis Omheen te Plannen
Thailand viert tientallen festivals gedurende het jaar — van de wereldberoemde Songkran-watergevechten tot spookparades in afgelegen Isan-dorpen. Deze gids behandelt elk groot festival in 2026 met exacte data, locaties en wat je kunt verwachten als je er bent.
2026 Festival Dates at a Glance
| Festival | Date | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makha Buchaมาฆบูชา | February 12 | Nationwide (temples) | Buddhist Holy Day |
| Songkranสงกรานต์ | April 13–15 | Nationwide — biggest in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket | National Holiday |
| Royal Ploughing Ceremonyพระราชพิธีพืชมงคล | May (date set by Royal Household) | Sanam Luang, Bangkok | National Holiday |
| Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)บุญบั้งไฟ | May 8–10 | Yasothon, Isan (Northeast Thailand) | Regional Festival |
| Visakha Buchaวิสาขบูชา | May 12 | Nationwide (temples) | Buddhist Holy Day |
| Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)ผีตาโขน | June 20–22 | Dan Sai, Loei Province | Regional Festival |
| Asanha Bucha & Khao Phansaอาสาฬหบูชา / เข้าพรรษา | July 10–11 | Nationwide (temples) | Buddhist Holy Day |
| Vegetarian Festivalเทศกาลกินเจ | October 11–19 | Phuket, Bangkok Chinatown | Regional Festival |
| Loi Krathongลอยกระทง | November 25 | Nationwide — biggest in Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Bangkok | National Holiday |
| Yi Peng (Sky Lantern Festival)ยี่เป็ง | November 24–25 | Chiang Mai | Regional Festival |
| His Majesty the King's Birthdayวันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา | July 28 | Nationwide — centered in Bangkok | National Holiday |
De Grote Drie: Festivals Die Elke Bezoeker Moet Zien
Als je je reis maar rond één festival kunt plannen, kies dan een van deze. Het zijn de meest visueel spectaculaire, toegankelijkste en cultureel belangrijkste vieringen in het land.
Songkran
สงกรานต์
Thailand's New Year and the world's biggest water fight. A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2024. What started as a gentle water-pouring blessing has evolved into a multi-day nationwide celebration of renewal, respect, and absolute soaking.
- ✦Massive street water fights
- ✦Song Nam Phra temple blessings
- ✦Floral shirt tradition
- ✦UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Loi Krathong
ลอยกระทง
Thailand's Festival of Lights. At dusk, people place small lotus-shaped floats (krathong) carrying candles, flowers, and incense onto rivers and lakes — symbolizing letting go of negativity and making wishes. One of the most beautiful nights in Thailand.
- ✦Floating lotus candle offerings
- ✦Letting go of negativity
- ✦Stunning riverside atmosphere
- ✦Beauty pageants and live music
Yi Peng (Sky Lantern Festival)
ยี่เป็ง
A Lanna tradition unique to Northern Thailand. Thousands of glowing paper lanterns (khom loi) are released into the night sky, creating a sea of floating lights. Often coincides with Loi Krathong for an unforgettable double celebration.
- ✦Thousands of sky lanterns released
- ✦Lanna cultural tradition
- ✦Coincides with Loi Krathong
- ✦Best viewed in Chiang Mai
Festival Kalender per Maand
Plan je Thailand-reis rond de festivals die je het meest interesseren. Elke maand heeft iets de moeite waard om te zien.
February
Makha Bucha
มาฆบูชา
Commemorates the day 1,250 disciples spontaneously gathered to hear the Buddha preach. Candlelit processions (Wien Thien) circle temple halls after dark. Alcohol sales are banned.
📍 Nationwide (temples)
April
Songkran
สงกรานต์
Thailand's New Year and the world's biggest water fight. A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2024. What started as a gentle water-pouring blessing has evolved into a multi-day nationwide celebration of renewal, respect, and absolute soaking.
📍 Nationwide — biggest in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket
May
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
พระราชพิธีพืชมงคล
An ancient Brahmin ceremony marking the start of the rice-growing season. Sacred oxen are offered a selection of foods — their choices predict the year's harvest. One of Thailand's oldest rituals, attended by the King.
📍 Sanam Luang, Bangkok
Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
บุญบั้งไฟ
Villagers build massive homemade rockets — some over 10 meters long — and launch them skyward to ask the rain gods for a good planting season. Three days of parades, dancing, music, and explosive competition. Isan at its wildest.
📍 Yasothon, Isan (Northeast Thailand)
Visakha Bucha
วิสาขบูชา
The most important Buddhist holiday — marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, all on the same full moon. Temples fill with worshippers for candlelit processions. Alcohol sales are banned.
📍 Nationwide (temples)
June
Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)
ผีตาโขน
Thailand's most photogenic festival. Locals parade through town in hand-carved ghost masks with long noses and wild eyes, linked to the Buddhist tale of Prince Vessandorn. When the prince returned from exile, the celebration was so loud that spirits from the forest joined the parade.
📍 Dan Sai, Loei Province
July
Asanha Bucha & Khao Phansa
อาสาฬหบูชา / เข้าพรรษา
Asanha Bucha marks the Buddha's first sermon. The following day, Khao Phansa, begins Buddhist Lent — a three-month retreat period for monks during the rainy season. The Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani features enormous carved wax candle floats.
📍 Nationwide (temples)
His Majesty the King's Birthday
วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา
Thailand's national day. Buildings are draped in yellow (the King's birth color). Candlelit ceremonies take place nationwide, with the largest at Sanam Luang in Bangkok.
📍 Nationwide — centered in Bangkok
October
Vegetarian Festival
เทศกาลกินเจ
Nine days of strict vegetarian eating, spiritual purification, and — in Phuket — extreme acts of devotion like fire-walking and body piercing. Restaurants fly yellow flags to signal vegetarian menus. Bangkok's Chinatown fills with mock-meat street food.
📍 Phuket, Bangkok Chinatown
November
Loi Krathong
ลอยกระทง
Thailand's Festival of Lights. At dusk, people place small lotus-shaped floats (krathong) carrying candles, flowers, and incense onto rivers and lakes — symbolizing letting go of negativity and making wishes. One of the most beautiful nights in Thailand.
📍 Nationwide — biggest in Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Bangkok
A Lanna tradition unique to Northern Thailand. Thousands of glowing paper lanterns (khom loi) are released into the night sky, creating a sea of floating lights. Often coincides with Loi Krathong for an unforgettable double celebration.
📍 Chiang Mai
Praktische Tips voor Festivalreizen
Boek Vroeg
Accommodatie nabij grote festivals raakt weken van tevoren volgeboekt. Songkran in Chiang Mai, Yi Peng en Vegetarisch Festival in Phuket zijn bijzonder competitief. Boek minstens een maand van tevoren voor de beste tarieven.
Alcoholverboden
Boeddhistische heilige dagen (Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asanha Bucha) hebben landelijke verboden op alcoholverkoop. Bars en restaurants serveren geen alcohol. Sla voorraad in de dag ervoor als nodig.
Tempel-etiquette
Bedek schouders en knieën bij tempels. Trek schoenen uit voor het betreden van gebouwen. Richt je voeten niet op Boeddhabeelden. Kleed je respectvol — dit is vooral belangrijk tijdens religieuze festivals.
Transportchaos
Grote festivals veroorzaken enorme verkeersdrukte. De Songkran-week ziet miljoenen reizen tussen Bangkok en hun thuisprovincies. Boek buses and trains early, and expect delays during peak festival days.