2026 Luang Prabang New Year Celebration | Luang Prabang
Celebration
The grand Luang Prabang New Year celebrations (Buddhist Era 2569) are coming in 2026! From April 11th to 20th, 2026, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang cordially invites all guests and tourists to join in the joyous festivities. Cultural Customs: During the Lao New Year, people typically wear traditional clothing. If you participate in the celebrations, please dress appropriately and respect local traditional clothing culture, avoiding overly revealing or outlandish attire. Water Splashing Etiquette: The Lao New Year is also known as Songkran or the Water Festival. Water splashing is an important celebratory activity. When splashing water, be mindful of the force and the target. Do not splash water on the elderly, pregnant women, monks, or other vulnerable groups. Please use clean water to gently sprinkle water as a way to express blessings and good fortune. Religious Etiquette: During the New Year, temples hold various religious ceremonies. When visiting temples, please remain quiet and respectful, remove your shoes, do not touch religious items, and do not disturb the monks' ceremonies. Respect the monks, give way to them, and follow local customs when participating in almsgiving. Schedule: April 11, 19:30 Songkran Miss Beauty Pageant Opening Ceremony & Market (Pha That Luang Square) April 12, 19:30 Songkran Miss Beauty Pageant Final (Pha That Luang Square) April 13, 07:30 Elephant Parade (Wat Mai to Wat Xieng Thong) April 14, 06:00 Public Market, from Zong Kham Village intersection to Pha That Luang Square; 09:00 Welcoming Buddha statues to various temples for public participation in the bathing Buddha ceremony; 13:00 Proceeding to Dui Sa Pagoda in Zan Phai District across the Mekong River for blessings April 15, 08:00 Tai Le New Year celebrations and other traditional activities in Phan Nung Village; 13:30 Float Parade (Day 1) (Wat Tha Nok to Wat Xieng Thong); 18:00 Temple Bathing Buddha Ceremony
April 16th, 05:30 Almsgiving Ceremony (over 300 monks), followed by a visit to Mount Phousi for blessings; 13:30 Float Parade (Day 2) (from Wat Xieng Thong to Wat Tha Nok); 19:00 Naga Image and Lantern Parade (Royal Palace Museum), Traditional Dance Performance
April 17th, 08:30 Bringing the Phra Bang Buddha Image to Wat Mai for public bathing and blessings; 10:30 Party and State Leaders and 7 Songkran Ladies proceed to Thanhtin Cave for a bathing Buddha ceremony; 19:00 Phalak–Phalam Troupe performs traditional arts at Wat Mai
April 18th-19th, 08:00 to 23:00 Public Water Splashing for Blessings; 19:00 The Phalak-Phalam troupe performs traditional arts at Wat Mai. On April 20th at 8:30 AM, the PhraBang Buddha statue is returned to Wat Prabang, completing the ceremony.