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
The dates below come from Thailand’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| National Children's Day | Jan 10Sat | 2026 |
| Teachers' Day | Jan 16Fri | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Lunar New Year's Day | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Second Day of Lunar New Year | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Third Day of Lunar New Year | Feb 19Thu | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Chakri Day | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Songkran | Apr 13Mon | 2026 |
| Songkran Holiday | Apr 14Tue | 2026 |
| Songkran Holiday | Apr 15Wed | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 30 dates recorded 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 30 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
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.