Thai New Year - Songkran
Songkran is the most fun and wet holiday in Thailand. History, traditions, dates and tips for participation. How to prepare for a water fight on the streets of Phuket and where the main events take place.
Songkran, one of the most important holidays in Thailand, attracts not only locals but also thousands of tourists. Many plan their vacations and travel in advance especially for this holiday. This holiday, known as the Thai New Year, is not associated with the change of the Gregorian calendar, but marks the change of the year according to the astrological calendar.
In Thailand, it coincides with the end of the hot season and the beginning of the rainy season. Songgran is celebrated in mid-April, its exact dates may vary in different provinces.
Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand, and many Buddhist holidays in the country are celebrated in the family circle. On this day, people go to temples, bring offerings to monks and pray.
Traditionally, Buddha statues are washed with water, symbolizing purification, and this ritual extends to the streets, where water fights between passers-by take place. Locals congratulate each other on the New Year and wear bright national costumes with floral patterns.
However, modern youth do not always attach much importance to the traditions of this holiday, and its beauty suffers due to the failure to observe basic rules of decency. Many dangerous situations arise due to water battles on the streets, which leads to increased police patrols of the roads. In recent years, the government has been actively fighting to preserve the cultural heritage of the holiday, introducing bans on indecent behavior and regulating the sale of alcohol. In 2020-2021, due to the pandemic, the festivities were banned, and the holiday returned to its family roots with traditional visits to temples. In 2022, water battles began to return to Thai streets.
Phuket Songgran Celebration 2026
In 2026, Phuket will celebrate from April 12 to 16. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced the following events:
- April 12-14 - Patong Festival on the beach (will be held on the beach street of Patong Beach)
- April 13 - Phuket Heritage Wave (will be held in Phuket Old Town)
- April 13 - Songkran No Alcohol (will be held in front of Limelight Mall in the old city)
- April 15-16 - Water Festival (will be held in the old city on Dibuk Street)
In addition to the announced events, locals will be organizing local "drenchings" all over Phuket - starting around lunchtime on April 12 and lasting until the water or strength runs out. Be careful during these days, especially when riding motorbikes. We recommend stocking up on glasses to protect your eyes from unexpected splashes and phone cases.
April 12-16 - government agencies are closed, and bank branches and educational institutions are closed. Alcohol sales will be limited on these days, and completely prohibited on April 13. We remind you that in Thailand, responsibility for violating this ban lies not only with sellers, but also with buyers.
On April 13, 2026, our company is closed, all applications and requests will be processed on April 14. Therefore, we ask you to take care of your excursion vacation in advance and plan it taking into account this information.
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