26 June every year is an important day when Thais collectively remember “ Sunthorn Phu ,” the great poet who created Thailand’s valuable literature. In 2026, Sunthorn Phu Day falls on Friday, 26 June, which is his birthday and an important occasion to promote learning about the Thai language, literature, and culture for future generations.
Sunthorn Phu Day was established to commemorate the birthday of “Phra Sunthorn Voharn (Phu),” also known as “Sunthorn Phu,” born on 26 June 1786 CE during the reign of King Rama I of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. Due to his outstanding literary works and significant influence on Thai society, Sunthorn Phu is honored as the national poet. In 1986, UNESCO also recognized him as a world literary figure on the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Sunthorn Phu was the great poet of the Rattanakosin era, whose life and works were connected to the royal court across several reigns, earning him the title “ Poet of Four Reigns .” He began serving in the royal court during King Rama II’s reign and was later conferred the noble title “Phra Sunthorn Voharn.”
Throughout his life, Sunthorn Phu created numerous literary works including travelogues, poetic tales, proverbs, and traditional narrative poems, deeply reflecting the lifestyle, society, and wisdom of Thai people of his time. Many of his works remain popular and are used in education today, such as
Sunthorn Phu Day is not only a day to remember Thailand’s great poet but also serves to raise awareness of the value of the Thai language and literature. Schools, educational institutions, and cultural agencies nationwide typically organize activities to help preserve cultural heritage and foster a love of the Thai language among young people, such as
Sunthorn Phu Day 2026 falls on 26 June 2026 and is an important occasion for Thais to remember the contributions of this great poet who created invaluable literary works and to collectively preserve the Thai language, a vital national heritage.
Although over 200 years have passed, Sunthorn Phu’s writings continue to hold value, reflecting thoughts, beliefs, and life lessons applicable across eras. It is therefore unsurprising that Sunthorn Phu’s name remains recognized as “the great poet of Rattanakosin ” and as a significant figure in world literature to this day.
Related articles