Phuket Festivals and Annual Events: A Calendar for Residents and Visitors

How dates work

Songkran falls on the same dates every year. Chinese New Year, the Vegetarian Festival, Buddhist holidays and Loy Krathong follow lunar calendars, so they move by days or weeks each year. Official dates are announced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the province and the organisers, and calendars sometimes disagree by a day, so check close to the time.

January and February

• Old Phuket Festival: a Phuket Town event around late January, with parades, costumes and street food in the Old Town.
• Chinese New Year: late January or February, with dragon dances, firecrackers and shrine visits in Phuket Old Town, and busy restaurants and roads. Many Chinese-Thai businesses close for a day or more.
• Makha Bucha: a Buddhist holiday around the February full moon, listed for 21 February in 2027, with temple ceremonies and, in practice, restrictions on alcohol sales.

April: Songkran

Songkran, the Thai New Year, is on 13 to 15 April every year. It is a public holiday with water throwing in the streets, especially in Patong and Phuket Town, and many people travel to visit family. Expect heavy traffic, closed offices and banks, and being soaked if you go out. Protect your phone, wear light clothes, and avoid riding a scooter on the busiest days, because accidents rise. Hiring a driver or staying close to home is easier.

Mid year

Phuket Bike Week, a motorcycle event in Patong, appears on calendars in different months, so check the organisers' dates. Visakha Bucha, around May or June, is another Buddhist holiday with temple events and alcohol restrictions. The rainy season runs roughly from May to October, which is the quietest period for visitors and a good time for cheaper stays.

September and October: the Vegetarian Festival

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival lasts nine days in the ninth lunar month, and in 2026 it ran from 10 to 18 October. The Chinese-Thai community follows a strict vegetarian diet, shophouses fly yellow flags, and processions leave from shrines in Phuket Town and Kathu. Some rituals involve piercings and fire, and the firecrackers are loud, so bring ear protection and avoid the processions if you are uncomfortable. Vegetarian street food is a highlight. Book Old Town stays early and expect traffic.

November: Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong, the festival of lights, falls on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. In 2026 it falls on 24 November, though some calendars list 25 November, so check local announcements. People float small decorated baskets, called krathong, on water and release lanterns, and Phuket holds events at beaches and lakes. Buy a krathong made of natural materials and avoid foam, and keep lantern use safe and legal. Our Loy Krathong 2026 news report lists this year's events, and our Loy Krathong guide covers the custom.

December: the King's Cup and New Year

The King's Cup Regatta, a long-running sailing event, takes place in early December, and dates have been reported differently, so check the official site. The King's Birthday on 5 December is a public holiday, and New Year's Eve is busy on the beaches, with higher prices and traffic. December and January are the peak of the high season, so book flights, villas and restaurants early.

Practical tips for every festival

• Plan around public holidays. Banks, government offices and some shops close, and Immigration may be shut, so do not leave a visa or report deadline until a holiday week.
• Alcohol sales are normally restricted on major Buddhist holidays, so buy ahead if you want it.
• Expect traffic and parking problems in Phuket Town and Patong during big events, and use a driver or ride-hailing app.
• Book accommodation early for the Vegetarian Festival, Songkran, Christmas and New Year.
• Dress modestly at religious events, and follow the etiquette guide.
• Check weather and sea conditions, and follow the beach safety advice.