Songkran and Loy Krathong in Phuket 2026: when and how they are celebrated
The dates and meaning of Thailand’s two biggest festivals, how Phuket’s version differs from Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and what a visitor should know before travelling.
Updated: 2026-08-19 · 6 min read · AURA Phuket
Songkran and Loy Krathong are Thailand’s two most visible festivals, and they are opposites in spirit: one is loud and wet, the other quiet and contemplative. Phuket celebrates both vividly, each in its own way.
Key facts
- Songkran is the Thai New Year, officially 13–15 April; in Phuket the celebrations often stretch over several days.
- Loy Krathong falls on the full-moon night of the 12th lunar month — in 2026 that is expected around 25 November (confirm the exact date closer to the time).
- Songkran is all about water: dousing strangers on the street symbolises washing away the past year’s misfortune.
- For Loy Krathong, krathongs — small rafts of banana leaf, candle and flowers — are floated on water to let go of bad luck.
- Patong and Bangla Road turn into one of Thailand’s biggest water fights during Songkran.
Songkran: three days of water
Officially the Thai New Year falls on 13–15 April, but in Phuket the festive mood is felt for several days before and after. Songkran originated as a ritual of gently pouring water over elders as a sign of respect and purification, but in tourist areas like Patong it has grown into a huge street battle — buckets, water guns and pickup trucks with water tanks cruise the streets from morning to night.
- Keep electronics and documents in a sealed bag — water comes from every direction, including random passers-by.
- Many restaurants and shops on Bangla Road wrap their entrances in plastic during peak fighting hours — you can still walk in.
- Unlike the street battles, temples during Songkran host a quiet ritual — pouring jasmine-scented water over Buddha statues, not over each other.
- Build in extra time for taxis and tuk-tuks during Songkran — traffic in Patong slows down because of the festivities.
Loy Krathong: a night of floating lights
Loy Krathong is a festival of thanks to Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of water. The date floats because it follows the lunar calendar’s full moon; in 2026 it falls around late November. Unlike Chiang Mai, where the Buddhist Yi Peng sky-lantern festival runs alongside it, Phuket’s version is centred on water — krathongs are floated on the sea and hotel lagoons, often as a family, while making a wish or letting go of the past year’s grudges.
- Krathongs are traditionally made from a slice of banana trunk, leaves, flowers, a candle and incense sticks — plastic and foam versions are now banned almost everywhere for environmental reasons.
- The best spots in Phuket are the lakeside promenade at Saphan Hin / Phuket Town park and calmer beaches such as Rawai.
- Many beachfront hotels run their own ceremony for guests that night, with music and food.
- The festival coincides with the end of the rainy season, so evenings are already pleasantly cool by local standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to join the Songkran water fights?
Generally yes, but protect your eyes from close-range jets and avoid riding a scooter during the most intense fighting — wet roads and splashed goggles raise the risk of a fall.
Can I buy a krathong on the spot, or do I need to make one myself?
Buying is by far the easiest option — street vendors and hotels sell ready-made krathongs right by the water on the night of the festival, from about 50–100 ฿ each.
Do Songkran dates differ in Phuket from the rest of the country?
The official dates are the same nationwide — 13–15 April — but in tourist zones like Patong the informal celebrations often start earlier and run later.
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