Events
The annual rhythm of Pattaya — from April’s citywide Songkran water fight to November’s floating lanterns and international fireworks.
March
Free beachfront concerts across several weekends, with stages on Pattaya Beach, Jomtien, Lan Pho Naklua park and even Koh Larn. The 2026 edition ran 6–28 March with top Thai pop, rock and hip-hop acts playing Fridays and Saturdays — one of Thailand’s biggest free music events, and hotel rooms near Beach Road fill on show nights.
April
Thai New Year officially runs 13–15 April, but Pattaya famously extends the party all week and closes it with its own "Wan Lai" day on 19 April, when Beach Road becomes one enormous, cheerful water battle. Expect soaked everything, gridlocked traffic and unforgettable chaos — waterproof your phone, skip the motorbike, and either dive in or plan your visit around it.
November
On the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month (24–25 November in 2026), thousands of candlelit krathong floats are set adrift from Pattaya Beach, Jomtien and the Naklua waterfront to carry away the old year’s misfortunes. One of Thailand’s most beautiful nights — buy a biodegradable krathong from the beachfront vendors and join in.
November
Two nights of competitive pyrotechnics over Pattaya Bay, with international teams — recent editions featured Finland, Germany, the UK and more — firing choreographed displays from about 20:00, plus beachside concerts and food stalls. The 2025 edition ran 28–29 November; the beachfront rooftop bars and hotel balconies along Beach Road are the prized seats, so book early.
Year-round
Pattaya is Bangkok’s weekend beach, so every Thai public holiday sends the capital coastward: hotel rates jump, Motorway 7 crawls and the Koh Larn ferries run full. If your dates are flexible, plan island days midweek — and if they coincide with a long weekend, book rooms and transport well ahead.
Exact dates for lunar-calendar festivals shift each year — check the official Tourism Authority of Thailand calendar close to your trip.