Songkran 2027: Dates of Thailand's Water Festival
Songkran 2027 is from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027, Thailand's traditional New Year holiday. Water fights often start a few days early in tourist areas and run longer in some cities.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
Songkran 2027 (13 April)
Unlike most Asian festivals, Songkran has a fixed date. The Thai government set the national holiday at 13–15 April, based on the sun's move into Aries in the traditional solar calendar, so you don't need to wait for a lunar announcement. What does change each year is whether the government adds extra days or substitute holidays when the dates touch a weekend.
Songkran dates 2025–2030
| Year | Songkran holiday |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday 13 April 2025 – Tuesday 15 April 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday 13 April 2026 – Wednesday 15 April 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday 13 April 2027 – Thursday 15 April 2027 |
| 2028 | Thursday 13 April 2028 – Saturday 15 April 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday 13 April 2029 – Sunday 15 April 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday 13 April 2030 – Monday 15 April 2030 |
The three days of Songkran
- 13 April – Maha Songkran: the old year ends. It is also National Elderly Day.
- 14 April – Wan Nao: the "in-between" day and Family Day; people prepare food and visit relatives.
- 15 April – Wan Payawan: the new year begins; families make merit at temples.
The traditional heart of Songkran is quiet: cleaning the house, pouring scented water over Buddha images and over the hands of elders to ask for blessings, and building sand pagodas at temples. The famous water fights grew from that gentle splashing.
Where the water fights are
| Place | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Bangkok – Silom Road and Khao San Road | The biggest street battles, closed to traffic, very crowded |
| Chiang Mai – around the Old City moat | Often the longest celebrations in Thailand, with parades and water drawn straight from the moat |
| Phuket – Patong (Bangla Road) | Beach-party atmosphere |
| Pattaya | Its own "Wan Lai" water festival usually runs later, around 18–19 April |
Neighbouring countries celebrate the same new year: Thingyan in Myanmar, Choul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Pi Mai in Laos (Luang Prabang is famous for it) and Sangken in parts of north-east India.
Songkran beyond the water fights
If you want to see the older side of the festival, visit a temple on the morning of 13 or 15 April. Families bring food offerings for monks, build small sand stupas in the temple grounds and bathe Buddha images with jasmine-scented water. In Bangkok, a revered Buddha image is often brought out for public bathing at Sanam Luang, and Wat Pho and Wat Arun are busy with worshippers. In Chiang Mai, the Phra Singh image is paraded from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh, and onlookers splash it with water as it passes — one of the most photographed moments of the festival.
Practical tips for Songkran 2027
- Assume you will get soaked anywhere outdoors. Use a waterproof phone pouch and keep passports in sealed bags.
- Don't throw water at monks, elderly people, babies or anyone on a motorbike, and avoid ice water.
- Road accidents rise sharply over Songkran — the period is known for the "seven dangerous days". Avoid riding scooters.
- Banks and government offices close; many Bangkok residents leave for their home provinces, so the city's roads are unusually empty while buses and trains are full.
- Hotels in Chiang Mai and near Silom fill months in advance, and April is the hottest month of the year — temperatures above 35°C are common.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Songkran 2027?
- 13–15 April 2027, from Tuesday to Thursday.
- Is Songkran the same date every year?
- Yes, the official holiday is 13–15 April, though the government may add extra days off.
- Where is the best place to celebrate Songkran?
- Chiang Mai for tradition and the longest celebrations; Bangkok's Silom Road for the biggest street party.
- Is Songkran a public holiday in Thailand?
- Yes. Banks and government offices close for the three days.
Sources: Tourism Authority of Thailand – Events and festivals · TAT Newsroom · Wikipedia – Songkran (Thailand)