Ruea Phra

Chak Phra Festival 2026 schedule

Chak Phra, Thot Pha Pa and Long-boat Racing Festival, Surat Thani Province

Chak Phra day

Festival dates
23–31 October 2026
9 days and 9 nights
End of Buddhist Lent
Monday, 26 October 2026
15th waxing day of the 11th lunar month
Chak Phra day
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
1st waning day of the 11th lunar month

Venue: The Tapi riverfront embankment and Narit Bridge, Mueang Surat Thani District — See the map of boat parking spots

The province has already set the festival dates as 23–31 October 2026, but the day-by-day programme has not been announced yet. Items marked "To be announced" follow the pattern of the 2025 festival and will be updated as soon as the Provincial Administrative Organization or Surat Thani City Municipality publishes the official programme.

Day by day

  1. Confirmed

    Registration for the land Buddha-boats and the land boat procession

    Competing for the trophy bestowed by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Applications are accepted on official working days and hours.

    📍 Division of Education, Religion and Culture (3rd floor), Surat Thani Provincial Administrative Organization, Provincial Government Centre

  2. To be announced

    Chak Phra exhibition, open through all 9 days and 9 nights

    📍 Around Narit Bridge

  3. To be announced

    Phum Pha Pa offering-tree contest — institution and public divisions, and the royal trophy division

    📍 Surat Thani City Municipality area

  4. To be announced

    End of Buddhist Lent · Long-boat races, the royal trophy celebration, a light and sound show, and the holy-water run

    📍 Tapi riverfront embankment / Narit Bridge

  5. Confirmed

    Chak Phra day (1st waning day of the 11th lunar month) · The city offering-tree ceremony, the land Buddha-boat procession, and long-boat races

    The city offering tree and the offering trees in front of houses are pulled from 06:00 onwards · This is the day when more than 100 Buddha boats from temples across the province move into the city and park there for people to pay their respects and admire them — the busiest day of the whole festival.

    📍 Main streets of Surat Thani City Municipality and the Tapi riverfront embankment

  6. To be announced

    Blessing ceremony for the Buddha boats and the opening of the river Chak Phra

    📍 The Tapi riverfront embankment

  7. To be announced

    Presentation of the royal trophies and a drone light show

    📍 Narit Bridge

  8. To be announced

    Stand-up paddleboarding and a drone light show

    📍 The Tapi riverfront embankment

  9. To be announced

    Merit-making for the Buddha boats — closing day

    📍 The Tapi riverfront embankment

Boats by temple

Look through the boats of past years before you go

Walk the festival in 360°

The real 2024 festival — turn and look in every direction

Sources

The programme may change as the province announces details. Please check again before you travel.