For the big water fights, go to Silom Road or Siam Square in Bangkok, the old city around Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai, or Patong Beach in Phuket. The official holiday is 13–15 April, but the main events start a few days earlier and some towns keep splashing until late April.
Songkran is the Thai New Year, and in towns across the country it turns into a street-wide water fight. This page is about the practical side: which streets the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) listed as official venues in 2026, when to be there, how to move around a city where every road is wet, and how to protect your phone and yourself. If you want to know why Thais throw water at each other in the first place, read our article on the meaning behind the Songkran water fights.
Songkran at a glance (2026 program)
- Official holiday
- 13–15 April (Monday to Wednesday in 2026)
- Bangkok, main zones
- Silom Road 12–14 April; Siam Square 12–15 April
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai Water Festival, Wat Chedi Luang, 11–13 April
- Phuket
- Phuket Water Festival, Patong Beach and Baan Mai Khao, 11–13 April
- Latest big events
- Pattaya 17–19 April; Phra Pradaeng (Samut Prakan) 24–26 April
- Next year
- No TAT event list for 2027 yet (as of October 2026)
The dates: three official days, about a week of events
On the Bank of Thailand's holiday list, Songkran is 13, 14 and 15 April. Banks and government offices close on those days, and our page on Thai public holidays explains what else closes and why trains and buses are full just before and after.
The water fights do not follow the bank calendar. In 2026, TAT's program for Bangkok ran from Thursday 9 to Wednesday 15 April, and the busiest street days were Sunday 12 to Tuesday 14 April. In Chiang Mai and Phuket the official festivals ran from Saturday 11 to Monday 13 April. Some places celebrate later on purpose: Chon Buri's Wan Lai tradition stretched from 5 to 20 April, with Pattaya's beach festival on 17–19 April.
In 2026, TAT published its official list of events in late March. For 2027 no list had appeared by early October 2026, so do not trust any website that already gives 2027 venue dates. Plan around the official holiday and check TAT's newsroom in spring.
Bangkok: Silom Road, Siam Square and the parks
Bangkok has the largest choice, and you can pick your intensity by street. TAT's 2026 list named Silom Road (12–14 April, with the Amazing Bangkok Songkran Parade on 14 April) and Siam Square (12–15 April) as the main water zones. Both are big, crowded and loud from early afternoon until late evening.
- Silom Road: the classic all-day water fight along one of the city's main business streets. Use BTS Sala Daeng or MRT Si Lom, which connect to each other.
- Siam Square: a younger crowd and music stages around the shopping district. BTS Siam is the interchange of both Skytrain lines, so expect long queues at the gates.
- Benjakitti Park: the Maha Songkran World Event (11–15 April 2026) used a park as its festival ground instead of an open street. Nearest stations are MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and MRT Sukhumvit.
- Riverside: ICONSIAM (10–15 April) and Asiatique ran their own, more family-friendly programs.
- Music festivals: S2O at S2O Land Ratchada (11–13 April) and similar paid events need tickets bought in advance.
Khao San Road is the place many websites still call Bangkok's Songkran center. It was not on TAT's 2026 list. People still gather there, but it is not an official venue, and the narrow street becomes very tight. If you want a calmer Bangkok Songkran, the temples in the old town hold the traditional water-pouring ceremonies in the mornings; dress for a temple visit and keep the water gun in your bag (our temple etiquette guide has the dress rules).
Where you stay matters more than usual. A hotel near a Skytrain or MRT station lets you go back to change clothes. Our guide to Bangkok's neighborhoods helps; Silom and Siam are both central, but rooms facing the street will hear the music until late.
Chiang Mai: the old city and Wat Chedi Luang
Chiang Mai has the reputation of the most traditional Songkran, and also some of the wettest streets. The official 2026 Chiang Mai Water Festival was held at Wat Chedi Luang in the old city from 11 to 13 April. The temple itself is one of the city's main sights; our page on the old city temples covers it.
The most famous water fights happen along the moat around the old city and near Tha Phae Gate. These are informal, not a TAT-listed event, but they are where most visitors end up. People scoop water straight from the moat, so keep your mouth closed and consider swimming goggles if you have sensitive eyes.
Chiang Mai fills up early for Songkran, so book your room well ahead. Staying inside or just outside the old city means you can walk everywhere instead of looking for a songthaew (the red shared pickup trucks) that will take wet passengers. Our Chiang Mai guide describes the different parts of town.
Phuket: Patong Beach, Mai Khao and Phuket Town
Phuket's 2026 Phuket Water Festival ran from 11 to 13 April at two places: Patong Beach in Kathu District and Baan Mai Khao in the north of the island. Patong is the party option, with the beach road soaked from morning to night. Phuket Town had a separate one-day event on 13 April on Dibuk Road and at Dragon Plaza, which is the better choice if you prefer the old shophouse streets to beach bars.
Getting around Phuket during Songkran is the hard part. Roads are slippery, pickups full of people with water barrels drive slowly in traffic, and riders on motorbikes get splashed. If you are not used to riding a scooter, this is not the week to learn. Choose a hotel within walking distance of where you want to celebrate; our comparison of Phuket's beaches helps you decide between Patong and quieter areas.
Quieter and different: Ayutthaya, the northeast and the late celebrations
If the big cities sound too much, TAT's 2026 list had many smaller events with their own character:
| Place | 2026 event and dates | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya | Elephant Splashing Songkran, Sri Sanphet Road, 13–15 April; Songkran at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, 9–13 April | Day trip from Bangkok, celebrations among the ruins |
| Khon Kaen | Bueng Kaen Nakhon and Si Chan Road, 11–15 April | A large city celebration in the northeast |
| Sukhothai | Maha Songkran, 6–19 April | Long, more traditional program |
| Pattaya and Chon Buri | Wan Lai, 5–20 April; Pattaya beach festival, 17–19 April | A second chance if you miss the main days |
| Phra Pradaeng (Samut Prakan) | 24–26 April | A late celebration close to Bangkok |
Ayutthaya is the easiest of these from Bangkok; see our Ayutthaya guide. Khon Kaen suits travelers who want a Thai crowd rather than a tourist one, and our Khon Kaen page covers the city. Using the late events, you can also spend the main holiday somewhere quiet and still see a water fight on the way home.
Getting around a wet city
In Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain and MRT are the best way to reach the water zones, because roads near Silom and Siam are closed or blocked. Stations can be crowded and wet, and staff may ask you not to spray water inside. Our guide to riding the BTS and MRT explains tickets.
Taxis and ride-hailing cars are hard to find near the main zones and often refuse wet passengers. Walk a few streets away from the action before you try to book one. Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis are open to the water, so you will arrive soaked whatever you pay.
Long-distance travel is the busiest of the year. Millions of Thais go home to their families before 13 April and return after 15 April. If you want to travel between cities, book early and consider moving on a day when most people are not: the middle of the holiday is often easier than its first or last day.
242 people died on Thai roads in the 2026 Songkran week. Thailand's Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center counted 1,242 crashes and 242 deaths during its "seven dangerous days" campaign (10–16 April 2026), as reported by Thairath. Most crashes involved motorbikes, and speeding was the main cause. Do not ride a scooter after drinking, and avoid long road trips in those days if you can.
Protecting your phone, money and passport
Assume that everything you carry will get wet. Even if you do not join in, people on the street will splash you, and that is part of the custom.
- Phone: a sealed waterproof pouch on a neck cord, sold at almost every shop and market stall in the week before Songkran. Test it at the hotel sink first. A phone marketed as water-resistant is not the same as waterproof under a pressure gun.
- Money: carry a little cash in a zip bag and leave cards you do not need in the hotel safe. Paying by phone through the pouch can be difficult, so cash is easier for street food and drinks.
- Passport: leave it in the hotel safe and carry a photo of the main page. If something goes wrong, our page on a lost or stolen passport explains the steps.
- Eyes and skin: cheap goggles help, and you still need sunscreen. April is one of the hottest months in Thailand, and a day outdoors can bring sunburn and heat exhaustion even when you are wet; see our advice on heat and sun.
Wear clothes that do not turn see-through. Dark, quick-drying clothes and shoes with grip are best. Thais celebrate in shorts and colorful shirts, but going topless or in swimwear on city streets is still considered rude.
Water fight manners that keep it friendly
Most of the etiquette is common sense, and the old article linked above explains the customs behind it. A few points matter most for visitors. Do not aim at people on motorbikes, because a rider who is hit in the face can crash. Do not splash people who are clearly not taking part, such as someone carrying a baby or a police officer at work. Aim for the body, not the face, and stop when someone asks.
Songkran is not an alcohol ban day, so bars and shops sell as normal under the usual sales hours. Drinking is part of the party for many people, which is one reason the roads are so dangerous. TAT's 2026 announcement did not say whether high-pressure water guns or other items were restricted, so follow any local rules you see posted at the venue.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is best for Songkran in Thailand?
Bangkok has the most venues and the easiest transport, Chiang Mai has the most traditional atmosphere around the old city, and Phuket suits travelers who want a beach party at Patong. For a first visit, Silom Road in Bangkok is easy to reach by Skytrain and MRT.
Is Khao San Road an official Songkran venue?
No. It was not on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's 2026 list of events, which named Silom Road and Siam Square for central Bangkok. People still celebrate there, but the street is narrow and becomes extremely crowded.
How long does Songkran last?
The official holiday is three days, 13 to 15 April. Events in Bangkok started on 9 April in 2026, and some places celebrate later: Pattaya held its beach festival on 17–19 April and Phra Pradaeng near Bangkok on 24–26 April.
How do I keep my phone safe during Songkran?
Put it in a sealed waterproof pouch on a cord around your neck, and test the pouch before you go out. Leave your passport and any cards you do not need in the hotel safe, and carry cash in a zip bag.
When will the Songkran 2027 event dates be published?
TAT published the 2026 program in late March 2026, and no 2027 program had appeared by early October 2026. Check TAT's newsroom in the spring before you book a city for the water fights.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Songkran festival 2026 to proceed nationwide (event list) (checked October 2026)
- Bank of Thailand – Financial institutions' holidays (checked October 2026)
- Thairath – End of 7 Dangerous Days of Songkran 2026: 242 total deaths (checked October 2026)
- BTS Skytrain – Route map (checked October 2026)