The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has officially launched the ‘Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025,’ a nationwide celebration of the Thai New Year set to take place from early to mid-April across every region of the country. The iconic celebrations are just one of several festivals scheduled for April 2025. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what’s coming up in the calendar this month.
This year’s Songkran festival is one of several celebrations in the ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025’ and the ‘Thailand Summer Festivals’ schedule. This year’s festival calendar will feature over 100 events nationwide, each offering a unique blend of tradition and festivity—from sacred rituals and temple fairs to music festivals and lively water fights. Highlights include:
- Bangkok: Maha Songkran World Water Festival at Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Klang (11–15 April).
- Bangkok: S20 Songkran Music Festival at Rajamangala Stadium (12–14 April).
- Chiang Mai: Songkran water fights and parades from 7–16 April.
- Khon Kaen: Grand Isan Songkran Festival (8–15 April).
- Southern Coastal Celebrations: Festivities in Phuket, Songkhla, and Surat Thani.
- Cultural Parades: Events in Phrae, Lamphun, and Ubon Ratchathani.
This month, Songkran is undoubtedly the standout event. ‘Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festival’ was recently inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its cultural importance and enhancing Thailand’s reputation as a destination for meaningful and memorable festival experiences.
In addition to the usual mix of wet and wild festivities, TAT has introduced the ‘Grand Songkran Grand Privileges’ programme, which provides travellers with access to exclusive discounts, special rewards and travel perks for international tourists throughout April. This initiative aims to enhance the festive travel experience, stimulate spending and promote sustainable tourism.
A recent statement from the TAT said “we invite both locals and visitors to partake in the diverse celebrations, embracing the rich heritage, community spirit, and shared joy that define Songkran.” For visitors to Thailand this month, the iconic Songkran celebrations are not to be missed.
