Thousands of dancers joined the worship ceremony for Phaya Pisai Satana Naga to open the 2026 World Naga Fireball Festival, while tourists secured spots along the Mekong River to watch the first Naga fireball, which appeared at 18:21.
At 17:30 on 26 Oct 2026 GMT+7, reporters at Tha Muang pier, Rattanawapi Subdistrict, Rattanawapi District, Nong Khai Province, observed both Thai and foreign tourists continuously securing spots to watch the Naga fireball phenomenon, causing traffic congestion to begin.
Meanwhile, at the Naka Awakening Sky Plaza in front of Wat Thai along the Mekong River in Phon Phisai Municipality, Nong Khai Province, Mr. Saransak Srikruanetr, Nong Khai Governor, presided over the worship ceremony for Phaya Pisai Satana Naga and the opening of the 2026 World Naga Fireball Festival. Dr. Mom Luang Nattha Kittiyakon and Khun Wuttisak Rattanasuwan joined the ceremony, along with Ms. Piyaratchai Tiyapairat, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Maymint Jiraporn Salaeng, Miss Thailand, who danced with thousands of Phon Phisai locals.
Following the ceremony was the official opening of the 2026 World Naga Fireball Festival and the awaited observation along the Mekong River. Last year’s statistics recorded 50 Naga fireballs in Phon Phisai District at Wat Luang, Chumphon, and Kut Bong subdistricts, while Rattanawapi District saw 237 fireballs at Rattanawapi, Phon Paeng, and Ban Ton subdistricts.
Later reports stated that at 18:21, the first Naga fireball of the year rose near Tha Muang pier, Rattanawapi Subdistrict, Rattanawapi District, Nong Khai Province, causing tourists to cheer, followed by a continuous rise of fireballs starting at 18:26.
