Public Holidays in Thailand
Statutory public holidays in Thailand, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Thailand at a glance
Thailand’s public holidays follow the Buddhist lunar calendar for religious dates, alongside the Chakri dynasty commemorations. Songkran, the water festival in mid-April, is the biggest celebration.
Most religious dates move each Gregorian year, and when a holiday falls on a weekend a substitute day is usually added.
Thailand public holidays 2026
Thailand has 23 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Bridge Public Holiday after New Year's Day | Jan 2Fri | Substitute |
| National Children's Day | Jan 10Sat | National |
| Makha Bucha | Mar 3Tue | National |
| Chakri Memorial Day | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Songkran Festival | Apr 13Mon | National |
| Songkran Festival | Apr 14Tue | National |
| Songkran Festival | Apr 15Wed | National |
| National Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Coronation Day | May 4Mon | National |
| Visakha Bucha | May 31Sun | National |
| Visakha Bucha (in lieu) | Jun 1Mon | Substitute |
Showing 12 of 23 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Thailand
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Thailand.
Bangkok
A capital of gold temples, canal markets and rooftop bars on the Chao Phraya.
Chiang Mai
A walled northern city of temples, craft villages and mountain trekking.
Phuket
The largest island, with beaches, old town shophouses and diving trips.
Pattaya
A beach resort city east of Bangkok with islands offshore.
Ayutthaya
A city of brick stupas and monastery ruins on a river island.
Krabi
A town beneath limestone cliffs with access to the Andaman islands.
Top attractions in Thailand
The places that draw most visitors to Thailand.
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
Bangkok's royal complex holding the Emerald Buddha.
Ayutthaya Historical Park
The ruins of a royal capital of prang towers and reclining Buddhas.
Phi Phi Islands
Towering limestone islets and clear water, reached by ferry from Krabi or Phuket.
Doi Suthep
A gilded mountain temple on a forested ridge above Chiang Mai.
Sukhothai
The ruins of the first Thai capital, with lotus-bud stupas and moats.
Railay Beach
A peninsula of cliffs and sand reachable only by boat, a climbing mecca.
Festivals, food and getting around Thailand
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
National Children's Day
Falls on Jan 10
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🎉
Teachers' Day
Falls on Jan 16
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🎉
Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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🎉
Lunar New Year's Day
Falls on Feb 17
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🎉
Second Day of Lunar New Year
Falls on Feb 18
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains, buses and cheap domestic flights all work well; in Bangkok the BTS Skytrain and river boats beat the traffic.
Travelling around Thailand’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Thailand tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Thailand's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Thailand public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Thailand have?
Thailand has 23 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Thailand is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Thailand's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Thailand typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Thailand?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Thailand?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Thailand
School term dates in Thailand
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.