When Does Kathin Ceremony 2026 Start? Check Schedules, Offerings, and Major Temples Across Thailand

The Kathin season, or the period for offering Kathin robes, is a significant merit-making event under the Buddhist monastic code eagerly anticipated by Thai Buddhists because it has a fixed timeframe and can only be performed once per year at each temple.

1. Kathin season schedule for the year 2026

Start date of Kathin season: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 (Wan Ram 1 Kham, Month 11)

End date of Kathin season: Tuesday, 24 November 2026 (Wan Khuen 15 Kham, Month 12, coinciding with Loy Krathong Day)

Total duration: 29 days

2. Items used in Kathin merit-making

Kathin components and related items include the following essential objects:

Kathin robe (main component) consists of the tricivara robes (sanghati, civara, sampot), which are the most important items offered for monks to perform the Kathin ceremony.

Monastic requisites and utensils such as alms bowl, razor, needle and thread, waistband, water filter (thamkarok), umbrella, shoulder cloth bag, flashlight, and towel.

Kathin-related items include the four requisites, Thai offerings, bedding (mat, pillow, mosquito net), cleaning tools for the temple, and donations for temple maintenance and restoration.

3. Importance of the Kathin tradition

From the monastic discipline perspective, it permits monks who have correctly completed the three-month rainy retreat (at least five monks) to receive Kathin merits, such as exemptions from certain robe restrictions.

For lay Buddhists, it is a "kala-tan" (merit-making limited to a specific time) with great merit that helps support Buddhism and promotes community unity through organizing "Kathin Samakki" events.

4. Key Kathin ceremonies and royal robe offerings nationwide

Examples of royal temples and major temples across the country in 2026