Top 10 Events and Festivals in Thailand and on Koh Samui

Hardly a month goes by in Thailand and on Koh Samui without a major festival. Some are celebrated nationwide, others only once a year, and a handful genuinely happen only here on the island. This list covers the 10 biggest events for the coming twelve months, with verified dates and a clear picture of what actually takes place on Koh Samui - not just in Bangkok or Phuket.

All the dates at a glance

10. Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is celebrated at full moon sometime between late January and late February; in 2027 the day falls on Saturday, 6 February. The colourful festival lasts around three days and is mostly celebrated within families, though there are also parades and big celebrations in the streets.

On Koh Samui, the Chinese temple in Maenam, in the north of the island, is a good place to experience it: there's a parade, traditional dances and plenty of food stalls. The Guan Yu Shrine in Hua Thanon also turns into a colourful street festival during this period.

If you're planning to visit Koh Samui over Chinese New Year, book your accommodation early - the island gets busy at this time.

9. Koh Samui Regatta

The Koh Samui Regatta traditionally takes place in late May off the island's east coast. The 23rd edition ran from 23 to 30 May 2026 off Chaweng Beach, with races each evening and a big closing party on the final day. The 2027 dates hadn't been officially announced at the time of checking - expect a similar late-May window, and confirm the details on samuiregatta.com once you're planning your trip.

Before racing starts, all participating boats anchor right off Chaweng - an impressive sight. A points system divides the fleet into classes so every entrant races on equal footing. Chaweng gets noticeably busier during the regatta, so factor that in when booking accommodation.

8. Vegetarian Festival

The Vegetarian Festival, known in Thai as "Thetsakan Kin Che", is a nine-day Taoist festival held in the ninth lunar month. In 2026 it runs from 10 to 18 October. It's best known for the extreme rituals in Phuket, but it's celebrated across Thailand.

On Koh Samui, it's a quieter affair: Chinese temples hold ceremonies, and vegetarian food ("Che") - prepared without meat and following special rituals - is served everywhere. You'll find it at the Guan Yu Shrine in Hua Thanon, in the island's main town of Nathon, and at the Chinese temple in Maenam.

For more on the island's temples, see Top 10 Temples on Koh Samui.

7. Samui Green Market

The "Samui Green Market" is still going, though it now runs a little differently. Instead of every six weeks at the Elysia Boutique Resort, it now takes place once a month, on the last Sunday, at the Greenlight Café & Bar in Fisherman's Village, Bophut, usually from around 3pm to 7pm.

Expect locally grown and made produce, health foods, handmade cosmetics and crafts, plus live music. Check the Samui Green Market Facebook page for the exact date before you go, as individual dates can shift.

6. Samui Bike Week

Samui Bike Week has been running since 2009, traditionally in May at Chaweng Lake. The 2025 edition took place on 2 and 3 May, drawing thousands of riders from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The exact 2027 dates hadn't been set at the time of checking - it's worth checking with the organisers or on Samui Bike Week's social channels shortly before your trip.

Highlights include motorbike shows, road-safety workshops and an island-wide parade, plus live music and street food. Proceeds traditionally go to charitable causes on the island.

5. Ngan Duan Sib (Sart Thai)

Ngan Duan Sib, also called Sart Thai or Wan Sat, falls on Sunday, 11 October in 2026 - shortly after the Vegetarian Festival, which it often overlaps with. On this day, Thais make offerings to monks in honour of their deceased relatives.

According to belief, ancestors live as hungry spirits with tiny mouths in an in-between realm, so small sweet treats such as Khanom La or Khanom Dee Sam are prepared to fit those tiny mouths. Around Nathon, in the west of Koh Samui, there's a parade on this day where some participants dress up as ghosts or skeletons.

4. Central Samui International Balloon Festival

The old "Samui Festival" in Chaweng - famous for its record-breaking beach buffet marking the island's 120th anniversary in 2017 - can no longer be verified as running under that name for the coming twelve months. In its place, another large family event has taken hold: the Central Samui International Balloon Festival at the Central Festival Samui shopping mall in Chaweng.

Expect giant inflatable figures - from dinosaurs to a giant crocodile - plus photo spots, family zones and live music in the evenings. The last confirmed edition ran over New Year, late December 2025 into early January 2026, and there's also been a summer edition. Check Central Samui's Facebook page for current dates before you plan a visit.

3. Full Moon Party

The world-famous Full Moon Party happens every month at full moon on Haad Rin Beach, on the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan - not on Koh Samui itself, but easily reached from here. Regular ferries and dedicated transfer boats both run from Koh Samui, with the crossing taking about an hour.

For full details on getting there and back, safety, and what to expect on the beach, see our dedicated article: Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan.

2. Loy Krathong

The festival of lights, Loy Krathong, is celebrated on the full moon day of the twelfth lunar month; in 2026 that's Tuesday, 24 November. On this evening, small floats (krathongs) made from banana leaves are crafted or bought and fitted with coins, a candle and incense sticks, symbolically letting go of the past year's worries.

On Koh Samui, most locals set their krathongs afloat on the beach or on Chaweng Lake, where a large market also springs up that evening. Other good spots are Lamai Lagoon and the beach near Big Buddha in the island's north-east.

1. Songkran

Songkran, the Thai New Year and the country's biggest water festival, officially runs from 13 to 15 April - for 2027 confirmed by a Bank of Thailand announcement in the Royal Gazette. In practice, celebrations on Koh Samui often start a day early and can run one or two days longer.

The water itself is originally a cleansing ritual for the new year: younger family members pour water over the hands of their elders as a blessing. On the streets, it turns into an all-out water fight with water pistols and buckets - on Koh Samui you'll get soaked pretty much everywhere during these days, especially in Chaweng and Lamai.

More Koh Samui events worth knowing

Two more Koh Samui-specific events with confirmed recent dates, in case your trip lines up with either:

Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament

An annual amateur and pro beach volleyball tournament held at Central Festival Samui on Chaweng Beach. The 8th edition ran from 26 to 29 March 2026, with matches from 9am to 9pm daily and the semi-finals and final on the last day. Expect a similar late-March window for the next edition, and check Central Festival Samui's channels closer to the date.

Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon

A road-running event with half marathon, 10K and 5K distances, starting and finishing at Chaweng Lake Public Park. The 2026 edition took place on Sunday, 21 June, with the longer route running out towards Bangrak Pier before joining the shorter courses back to the finish. The 2027 date hadn't been published at the time of checking - keep an eye on the organiser's channels if you'd like to take part or just watch.

Frequently asked questions

What special festivals are there in Thailand?

The most important nationwide festivals follow the Buddhist/Taoist lunar calendar - Chinese New Year, the Vegetarian Festival, Loy Krathong and Songkran - alongside Koh Samui's own events such as the Regatta, Bike Week, Green Market and the Balloon Festival, which are more sporting or market-focused.

When is the lantern festival in Thailand?

The festival of lights, Loy Krathong, always falls on the full moon day of the twelfth lunar month, usually in November. In 2026 that's 24 November.

Which of these events actually take place on Koh Samui?

The Koh Samui Regatta, Samui Bike Week, Samui Green Market, Ngan Duan Sib and the Central Samui Balloon Festival are events native to the island. Chinese New Year, the Vegetarian Festival, Loy Krathong and Songkran are celebrated nationwide but have their own venues and traditions on Koh Samui. Only the Full Moon Party doesn't happen on Koh Samui itself - that's on the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan.

When is the Full Moon Party and do I have to go to Koh Phangan for it?

Yes, the Full Moon Party is held exclusively on Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan, every month at full moon. From Koh Samui, ferries and transfer boats get you there in about an hour.

Are there any sports events on Koh Samui?

Yes - alongside the Regatta and Bike Week, Koh Samui hosts the Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament at Central Festival Samui (most recently 26-29 March 2026) and the Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon at Chaweng Lake (most recently 21 June 2026), with half marathon, 10K and 5K distances.

For more on the best time to visit around these events, see Best time to visit Koh Samui, for more on the neighbouring island see Koh Phangan day trip from Koh Samui, and for an overview of the temples where many of these festivals take place, see Top 10 Temples on Koh Samui.