Songkran 2027 Dates: 13 to 15 April, Alcohol and Water Rules

Songkran 2027 is Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April, three holidays for banks, and the annual holiday notice sets Songkran at 13 to 15 April, 3 days. Alcohol sells only 11:00 to 24:00, and drink-driving carries up to one year in prison or a fine of THB 5,000 to 20,000.

Plan for Songkran 2027 on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 April: those three days are holidays for banks, and the annual holiday notice makes Songkran a three-day holiday. Book travel early, buy any alcohol before 24:00, and don’t drive after drinking.

What closes

The three Songkran days are the only holidays in that stretch of April for financial institutions, besides Chakri Memorial Day on Tuesday 6 April a week earlier. Because the days fall Tuesday to Thursday, there’s no weekend substitution day in the list. The wider calendar is in the public holidays guide.

Alcohol during Songkran

Songkran isn’t a dry day. Alcohol can’t be sold outside 11:00 to 24:00, and that window applies on Songkran days too. The banned days are Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha, and the first and last days of Buddhist Lent, none of them in April. The alcohol ban days guide and the sale hours guide have the full lists.

Water and your bag

Bangkok asks people to skip high-pressure water guns and powder smeared on other people. If you’re flying with a toy water gun, put it in checked baggage: Airports of Thailand recommends that, and anything that looks like a gun is prohibited on board. Scented water (nam ob thai) can go in carry-on in bottles of 100 ml or less. Power banks and spare batteries stay in your carry-on, never checked baggage.

Don’t drink and drive

Driving drunk carries up to one year in prison or a fine of THB 5,000 to 20,000, or both, and the court suspends the licence for at least six months or revokes it.

มาตรา ๑๖๐ ตรี ผู้ใดฝ่าฝืนมาตรา ๔๓ (๒) ต้องระวางโทษจำคุกไม่เกินหนึ่งปีหรือปรับตั้งแต่ห้าพันบาทถึงสองหมื่นบาท หรือทั้งจำทั้งปรับ และให้ศาลสั่งพักใช้ใบอนุญาตขับขี่ของผู้นั้นมีกำหนดไม่น้อยกว่าหกเดือน หรือเพิกถอนใบอนุญาตขับขี่

“Whoever breaches section 43(2) is liable to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 baht, or both, and the court shall suspend the driver licence for not less than six months, or revoke it.”

Land Traffic Act, section 160 ter

If the offence harms someone, the penalty rises to 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of THB 20,000 to 100,000. If someone dies, it’s 3 to 10 years and a fine of THB 60,000 to 200,000. If you ride a scooter during the holiday, note that motorcycles were the most common vehicle in the 2026 crashes.

Before you go

• Book flights and trains early.
• Buy alcohol before 24:00.
• Pack toy water guns in checked baggage and power banks in your carry-on.
• Skip high-pressure water guns and powder in Bangkok.

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Not confirmed: The Cabinet often adds a compensation day around Songkran, and no decision for next year was found yet. Check the Cabinet notice before you book. The road-safety campaign dates for next year are also not announced.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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