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Songkran might not be on your radar, but it SHOULD be! It is the biggest water fight in the world, and the vibes are unmatched! Whether you have only just heard about it or you are looking to plan a 2026 visit to Thailand for this awesome water festival, we've got all you need to know about the festival, our top tips and the route we'd take if we were going to Songkran in 2026.
When is Thailand's Songkran Water Festival?
Thailand's Water Festival runs for three epic days between the 13th and 15th of April every single year. The festival celebrates the Thai New Year, the 13th is "New Year's Eve" (aka Songkran), April 14th is named Wan Klang or Wan Nao, and April 15th is called Wan Taleung.
What does the festival celebrate?
Songkran (commonly known as the Water Festival) celebrates the Thai New Year. The water element symbolises the washing away the bad luck and starting the new year on a clean slate. If you are looking to take part in a beautiful festival that is SO much fun this is your sign to add Songkran to your 2026 plans!
Where is the best place to celebrate Songkran?
Songkran is celebrated all across Thailand. If you are going over these dates in April, then get ready to be splashed and immersed in the fun. If we HAD to choose our top two places to celebrate the festival, they would have to be Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Bangkok always has 10/10 vibes, and it's the ultimate place to party throughout the year, so of course, Songkran takes it to another level. Chiang Mai is also an amazing place to visit over Songkran. Chiang Mai is north of Bangkok, and it is THE place to go if you want to experience Songkran "madness" and be close to awesome nature and stunning views.
Top tips for Sonkgran:
1. Embrace it! It's pure madness, but just go with the flow (if you'll pardon the pun.) There will be parades, water fights, street performances and more, so get ready for jam-packed days filled with amazing vibes!
2. Leave valuables at home... You're going to get soaked - there's not really a way around it, so leave anything precious at home and allow yourself to properly enjoy the festival without worrying about your stuff getting ruined.
3. Don't get the water in your mouth! This might sound like an obvious one but don't forget it, the last thing you want is to get sick in the middle of this epic festival!
4. Consider joining a tour to celebrate Songrkan. No one does Songkran quite like the Thai locals, so it's worth joining a Songkran Festival tour, which is led by a local guide so you get to experience the celebrations authentically! When in Rome right?!
So there you go, we hope we were able to answer your questions about Songkran Festival! It is a bucket-list trip and we cannot wait for you to experience the magic of Thai New Year.
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