About Songkran (Thai New Year)
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, celebrated every year from April 13 to 15. The name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "passing" or "movement," marking the sun's shift into Aries and the start of a new solar year. Rooted in Buddhist and Hindu tradition, it is Thailand's most important holiday — a time for cleansing, renewal and paying respect, when the whole country slows down and families travel home to be together.
Songkran is famous worldwide as a giant water festival: streets fill with people dousing each other with buckets, hoses and water guns, a playful gesture symbolizing the washing away of the past year's misfortune. Beyond the splashing, the holiday has gentler rituals — pouring scented water over Buddha images, sprinkling water on the hands of elders to ask their blessing, building sand pagodas at temples and releasing fish and birds. UNESCO inscribed Songkran on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023.
Because Songkran is fixed to April 13–15, it falls in Thailand's hottest month, which makes the water all the more welcome. Similar New Year water festivals are held across mainland Southeast Asia at the same time. Whether you are planning a trip to Bangkok or Chiang Mai or just love the spectacle, the counter above shows exactly how long until Songkran — add it to your own page so you never miss the start of the splash.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Tuesday, April 13, 2027next |
| 2028 | Thursday, April 13, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, April 13, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, April 13, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, April 13, 2031 |
FAQ
When is Songkran?
Songkran runs every year from April 13 to 15, with April 13 the main day. The live counter above shows the time remaining until the next Songkran in your timezone.
Why is Songkran celebrated?
It marks the traditional Thai New Year and the start of a new solar year — a Buddhist time of cleansing, renewal, merit-making and showing respect to elders and ancestors.
How is Songkran celebrated?
With nationwide water fights in the streets, plus temple visits, pouring water over Buddha images, sprinkling water on elders' hands for blessings, and family gatherings.
Why do people throw water at Songkran?
Sprinkling and splashing water symbolizes washing away the previous year's bad luck and starting the new year clean — a ritual that has grown into Thailand's joyful, country-wide water festival.