Songkran 2026 Holiday Schedule: Check the Long Holiday Calendar and Meanings for April 13-15

This year’s Songkran 2026 offers an extended holiday period. Thairath Online presents the official public holiday calendar and explores the meanings of important days including Maha Songkran Day, Nao Day, and Theloeng Sok Day, along with traditional Thai activities recommended for each day to bring auspiciousness for the Thai New Year.

Check the Songkran 2026 holiday schedule to see how many days off you have and plan your trip accordingly.

For the year 2026, Songkran falls from Monday to Wednesday, which combined with the preceding Saturday and Sunday creates a continuous long holiday period as follows.

• Saturday, April 11, 2026: Weekend holiday.
• Sunday, April 12, 2026: Weekend holiday.
• Monday, April 13, 2026: Maha Songkran Day (public holiday).
• Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Nao Day (public holiday).
• Wednesday, April 15, 2026: Theloeng Sok Day (public holiday).

Therefore, the Songkran festival in 2026 provides a continuous five-day holiday from April 11 to April 15.

Meanings of each day during the Songkran festival.

The Songkran tradition involves more than just water splashing; each day holds distinct beliefs and names based on Thai astrology, as follows.

1. April 13: Maha Songkran Day.

This marks the day the sun enters Aries, signaling the festival's start and is also recognized as "National Elderly Day."

• Key activities include cleaning the home to welcome the New Year, preparing offerings for merit-making, and beginning the bathing of Buddha statues.

2. April 14: Nao Day.

The word "Nao" means "to stay," indicating the sun has fully entered Aries. This day is designated as "Family Day."

• Significant activities include promoting auspiciousness by avoiding foul language and conflicts, preparing food and sweets for merit-making the next day, and bringing sand to the temple.

3. April 15: Theloeng Sok Day.

This day marks the start of the new Thai solar year according to astrological timing.

• Important activities are almsgiving, listening to sermons and Dhamma talks, bathing Buddha statues, and notably, the water pouring ceremony to seek blessings and show respect to elders.

Essential Songkran traditions to perform for auspiciousness.

Beyond holidays and travel, four main cultural activities passed down through generations are widely practiced by Buddhists.

• Making merit by giving alms: dedicating merit to ancestors and generating good karma for oneself.
• Bathing Buddha statues: at home and in temples for peace and happiness.
• Building sand pagodas: returning sand to the temple for restoration and maintenance purposes.
• Water pouring ceremony (Rod Nam Dam Hua): asking forgiveness and blessings from parents, teachers, and respected elders.

Songkran 2026 offers a great opportunity for a five-day break. Besides the fun of water play, sustaining Thai traditions through merit-making and caring for the elderly remains the core that gives this festival enduring meaning and value in Thai society.