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Religious

Visakha Buchaวันวิสาขบูชา

The most important day in the Buddhist year, and the second of Thailand's five statutory dry days

Next
20 May 2027
20 May 2027
Where
Nationwide
Public holiday
Yes
Alcohol sales
Banned

In short

Visakha Bucha commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, all held to have fallen on the same full moon. The United Nations recognises it as Vesak, an internationally observed day. In Thailand it is a public holiday, temples run all day, and alcohol may not be sold outside the standing exemptions.

The interior of the ubosot at Wat Ratchabophit in Bangkok, looking down the nave to the Buddha image at the far end beneath an unusual Gothic-style vaulted ceiling covered in gilded tracery, lit by hanging lamps.
Chainwit. / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Go if

  • Sunrise almsgiving, which is more widely observed on this day than any other
  • The evening candle procession, held at essentially every temple in the country
  • Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom, the national Buddhist park, which hosts the state ceremony

Be aware

  • The alcohol ban falls on the lunar date, which is not always the same day as the public holiday. In 2026 the dry day was Sunday 31 May while the day off work was Monday 1 June
  • Banks and government offices closed on the in-lieu day
  • Temples are at their busiest of the year; parking near major wats is impossible

Dates

The full moon of the sixth month in the Thai lunar calendar — May, or occasionally early June in a leap-month year. An in-lieu weekday holiday follows if it falls at a weekend.

  • 31 May 2026Sunday, with Monday 1 June observed as the public holiday in lieu. The alcohol ban applies on the 31st itself.
  • 20 May 2027Thursday.

Sources

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