Songkran (Thai New Year) – Why agents should let clients know about this UNESCO-listed festival

Thailand’s Maha (Grand) Songkran Water Festival 2025 is set to make a splash!

UNESCO-listed celebration to anchor Thailand’s Grand Tourism and Sports Year.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is gearing up for the Grand ‘Maha’ Songkran World Water Festival 2025 — the flagship event of Thailand’s New Year celebrations and a centrepiece of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025.

Thailand comes alive this April with a packed calendar of festivals and events. At the heart of it all is the Maha Songkran World Water Festival, a nationwide celebration of Thai New Year with grand processions, cultural performances, and epic water fights.

Beyond Songkran, this month travellers can also explore events like the Thailand Coffee Hub in Chiang Mai, the Kite Festival in Surat Thani, and the Phanom Rung Festival in Buri Ram. From ancient rituals to beach parties and art pop-ups, there’s something for everyone.

Commenting on Thailand’s most exciting festivals, Ms. Worapa Angkhasirisap, Director of TAT UK & Ireland said:

“Songkran is a symbol of Thailand’s identity and a deeply meaningful event, marking the traditional Thai New Year. It’s time for renewal. It’s also a great time to be in Thailand as a tourist and really engage with local culture. 2025 marks the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports Year so festivities are bigger and better than ever with over 100 events nationwide! Songkran was recently inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, affirming Songkran’s cultural importance.”

Songkran celebrations extend nationwide to communities across Thailand, with events running throughout April in provinces such as Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Lampang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nong Khai, and Ayutthaya. Wherever travellers are in Thailand they will be able to enjoy this iconic festival. These regional festivals showcase local heritage while promoting tourism in Hidden-Gem cities. In addition, private sector events including ICONSIAM’s Maha Songkran, S2O Songkran Music Festival, and lgbtq+ GCircuit Songkran 2025 will amplify the festive atmosphere in Bangkok and beyond.

TAT is enhancing travellers’ safety and experience with the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 web application, which provides real-time updates, zone maps, and performance schedules. In line with TAT’s commitment to sustainable tourism, “GCYOU-TURN” is a plastic recycling and upcycling initiative that will help manage festival waste responsibly.

For safety and convenience, the Tourist Police Bureau will provide 24-hour support in eight languages, alongside the Thailand Tourist Police mobile app, which integrates an SOS button, GPS location sharing, and direct links to national emergency services.

TAT projects that Songkran 2025 will generate over 26.5 billion Baht in tourism revenue during 12–16 April, marking an 8% increase year-on-year. This includes 476,000 international arrivals contributing 7.324 billion Baht, and more than 4.4 million domestic visits generating 19.24 billion Baht.

For a full list of events, visit: Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025