The Chairman of the Ubon Ratchathani Chamber of Industry estimated that the 2026 Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival saw an increase of 33,000 tourists compared to the previous year, generating 1.7 billion baht in local spending.
On 4 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Adul Nilprem, Chairman of the Ubon Ratchathani Chamber of Industry, revealed that following a multi-agency meeting to evaluate the 2026 annual Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival, held in three phases—first, community visits to candle makers before the festival; second, the candle parade from 28-30 Jul 2026 and 31 Jul-1 Aug 2026; and third, the month-long candle exhibition from 2-15 Aug 2026—they found that attendance increased by over 33,000 from the previous year. In 2025, about 426,000 tourists attended, while in 2026, attendance rose to approximately 460,000, resulting in local economic activity of no less than 1.7 billion baht, up 474 million baht from 2025.
This income primarily came from overnight tourists, contributing about 675 million baht, and day-trip visitors, around 168 million baht, along with revenues from other activities such as food and beverage sales, souvenirs, transportation, and DIY events. Despite a reduction in funding from the Tourism Authority of Thailand by approximately 2-3 million baht compared to 2025—when support was about 10 million baht—the evaluation results were very satisfactory.
Mr. Adul Nilprem said that although funding for this year's festival was reduced, strong collaboration among all sectors—government, private sector, local communities, temple committees, educational institutions, and local administrative organizations—ensured a beautiful event. Particularly, the candle creations retained their value, both in carving and mold types, reflecting the unique heritage of Ubon Ratchathani, which has held candle parades for over 100 years. Every dance procession devoted effort to showcasing the rich Isan cultural roots beautifully. These values proudly reached both Thai and international audiences, making the festival a source of pride for Ubon Ratchathani residents.
“The origin of giant candles began here, including both carved and molded types. We emphasized telling the story of the Buddha’s life through every candle. The elegant dances accompanying the candle parades depict the lifestyle and true beauty of authentic Isan culture. Thus, the Candle Festival stands out as the clearest expression of Ubon Ratchathani's identity. Following this year's event evaluation, the province will promptly submit the report to the House of Representatives subcommittee to seek increased government budget support for the 2027 festival,” Mr. Adul stated.