BANGKOK, Thailand – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced large-scale Chinese New Year celebrations for 2026, themed the Year of the Golden Horse, with major events planned in Bangkok and Hat Yai district of Songkhla province. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the festivities, coinciding with the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, are expected to generate about 42 billion baht in tourism revenue during the holiday travel period.
The main celebrations will take place in Bangkok and Hat Yai, supported by regional events in Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri. Activities across all locations will feature illuminated decorations, Thai and Chinese cultural performances, and live demonstrations, creating a festive atmosphere that attracts both domestic and international visitors. The Chinese New Year travel period is set for February 13 to 22, with more than 3.5 million trips projected nationwide.
In Bangkok, events will be held along Yaowarat Road and at Siam Paragon. Yaowarat will host large-scale decorative lighting from February 7 to March 1, while Siam Paragon will stage the Amazing Thailand Happy Chinese New Year Festival from Feb. 14 to 18. The program will include cultural performances from several regions of China, interactive Thai-Chinese cultural activities, and large lantern displays.
Hat Yai will host celebrations from Feb. 17 to 20 along Saneha Nusorn Road, featuring cultural shows from China’s Fujian Province, lion dances, acrobatics, and nighttime light displays. Additional regional events include the long-running Chinese New Year procession in Nakhon Sawan and celebrations at the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri, supported by public and private sector partners.
Tourism projections for the period include about 1.25 million international arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent, including roughly 241,000 visitors from China, along with 2.3 million domestic trips. (NNT)
