Last week, the government announced three new official holiday days for Thailand in an effort to boost tourism, including an extension of the New Year in 2026, giving us a few more long weekends. In addition to some public holidays, no alcohol sale days in Thailand in 2025 coincide with key Buddhist holidays, some of which have yet to announce official dates such as Awk Phansa. While expected, announcements for the dry days may not occur until closer to the date. In addition, the municipal authorities may announce drinking restrictions for local reasons.

 

 

This year the first falls on a Wednesday, so that’s not great. However, next year’s New Year celebration gets an extra holiday. 

 

This Buddhist holiday marks an event when 1,250 enlightened monks, all ordained by the Buddha, gathered to meet him on the night of the full moon during the third lunar month. It’s hump day and a day off of work, but you’ll have to enjoy it without alcohol.  

 

Because it falls on a Sunday, you will get Monday the 7th off work. This historial holiday commemorates the founding of the Chakri Dynasty.

 

It’s complicated. Songkran is celebrated for almost a week with water splashing, temple visits, and family gatherings and is frequently an alcohol-fueled event. However, due to historically massive increases in road accidents and other injuries at this time of year, the Thai government is cracking down on alcohol abuse. Official “splash zones”—areas designated to celebrate Songkran with water fights—were strictly alcohol-free in 2024 and will likely be such in 2025. Extra police will be on the prowl looking for offenders, confiscating alcohol in those zones and heavily fining drunk drivers. There will be tough fines for drinking in vehicles and public places like parks and at road-side vendors in many areas. In 2024 in Chiang Mai, they even extended this ban to smoking cigarettes and weed.

 

Falling on a Thursday, you can bet on many taking that Friday off work and making it a nice extra-long weekend. Honoring workers in Thailand, you celebrate with a Sangsom or three. 

 

This Buddhist holiday is officially May 11th, but as that is a Sunday, the day off work will be on the 12th. It celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Buddha. It is a no-alcohol sale day. 

 

There should not be any restrictions on alcohol sales on this day which celebrates the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. In 2023, there were booze restrictions, but that was because the long weekend coincided with the election.

 

One of the new additions to the calendar as of last week, adding to the holiday for a four-day weekend. 

 

A Buddhist holiday marking Buddha's first sermon, with alcohol restrictions. Drinking restrictions are common for this day and are nationwide. 

 

This marks the beginning of the three-month Buddhist Lent, another day to expect alcohol sales restrictions, and restrictions may be extended. 

 

A national holiday celebrating the king's birthday.

 

Honoring Queen Sirikit, and also Mother’s Day throughout the country. This is another holiday that has been extended this year for the long weekend. 

 

Honoring the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

 

Celebrating the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).

 

Celebrating the late King’s birthday, and this day also celebrates father’s day. 

 

Honoring Thailand’s constitutional monarchy.

 

Celebrating the end of the year, but the government announced last week that the official holidays would be extended to promote tourism. This is very much not a dry holiday.