Buriram is preparing to hold the grand '9th World Standing Meatball Championship Festival,' designating March 27 every year as 'Standing Meatball Day' to jointly celebrate the birthday of Lisa Manoban with full activities, including meatball eating contests and cover dance competitions to stimulate the local economy.
On 11 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Sritham Ratchakaew, Deputy Governor of Buriram Province, announced that the province, together with government and private agencies, is preparing to hold the '9th World Standing Meatball Championship Festival' from 27–29 March 2026 GMT+7 at Chang Arena. The event aims to promote tourism and elevate 'standing meatballs,' a local identity of the province, into a recognized Soft Power internationally.
Buriram Province also declared a new milestone by designating March 27 each year as '2L: Lisa & Luk Chin Yuen Kin Day' to hold Happy Birthday activities for Lisa Manoban, the global artist from Buriram, while grandly celebrating the standing meatball culture annually. Highlights for 2026 include:
On 27 March 2026 GMT+7: a historic Happy Birthday 2L event, a Cover Look & Cover Dance LALALISA contest, and distribution of over 500 kilograms of free meatballs with 2L fan clubs nationwide.
On 28 March 2026 GMT+7: the competition to crown the new World Standing Meatball Eating Champion and a team competition called 'Seragrow' with total prize money of 40,000 baht.
On 29 March 2026 GMT+7: a contest to find the champion of standing meatball skewering, awards for the best meatball and dipping sauce vendors of the year, and judging of the mascot contest for 'Nong Chin'.
Mr. Sritham Ratchakaew, Deputy Governor of Buriram Province, said, "Standing meatballs" represent a simple eating culture of the Buriram people, originating from eating while waiting for trains and evolving into a unique tourism identity of the province. Currently, the standing meatball business has a market value exceeding 200 million baht annually, generating income for entrepreneurs and continuously stimulating the local economy.
Buriram Province invites tourists, both Thai and foreign, to experience the fun atmosphere of the '9th World Standing Meatball Championship Festival' from 27–29 March 2026 GMT+7 at Chang Arena. It is expected to create excitement, boost the economy, and enhance Buriram's tourism image.
