When and where
When: 5 December
Rule: Fixed date. 2026: Saturday 5 December (day off Monday 7 December); 2027: Sunday 5 December (day off Monday 6 December).
Dates can change. Check the current date shortly before your trip with the local organisers or the tourist office.
About Father's Day and National Day
5 December, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), is Father's Day and National Day. People dress in yellow, the colour of his birthday, and give their fathers a canna flower, the traditional Father's Day bloom. In the evening devotees gather at Sanam Luang and temples for candle-lighting and prayer. Cities are festively decorated and the mood is gently celebratory.
Getting there
Sanam Luang is beside the Grand Palace; river boat to Tha Chang or taxi.
Highlights
- Yellow clothes Many Thais wear yellow in honour of the day.
- Candle ceremony Devotees gather for prayer and candle-lighting.
- Father's Day Children give their father a canna flower.
Tips for Father's Day and National Day
- Banks and government offices are closed; a bridge day may follow.
- Dress neatly and be quiet during ceremonies.
- It is a calm day.
Father's Day and National Day on the map
Pinch to zoom; tap a point for more info. Open circles: approximate location.
The location on the map is approximate.
National holiday; the map shows Sanam Luang in Bangkok where ceremonies and candle-lighting take place.
Frequently asked questions about Father's Day and National Day
When is Father's Day and National Day in 2026?
Father's Day and National Day falls in 2026 on 5 December and is celebrated nationwide; a well-known spot is Sanam Luang and Royal Plaza, Bangkok. Rule: 5 December. An official or clearly documented source confirms this date.
When is Father's Day and National Day in 2027?
Father's Day and National Day falls in 2027 on 5 December and is celebrated nationwide; a well-known spot is Sanam Luang and Royal Plaza, Bangkok. Rule: 5 December. An official or clearly documented source confirms this date.
Where is the best place to see Father's Day and National Day?
Watch it best at Sanam Luang and Royal Plaza, Bangkok. Many Thais wear yellow in honour of the day. Sanam Luang is beside the Grand Palace; river boat to Tha Chang or taxi. Devotees gather for prayer and candle-lighting. Highlight: Father's Day – Children give their father a canna flower.
Festivals near Sanam Luang and Royal Plaza, Bangkok
- Royal Ploughing Ceremony 0 km as the crow flies
- Mother's Day (Queen Mother's Birthday) 0 km as the crow flies
- King Bhumibol Memorial Day 1 km as the crow flies
- Coronation Day 1 km as the crow flies
- Queen Suthida's Birthday 1 km as the crow flies
Also in December
- Chiang Rai Flower Festival
- Bua Tong Blossom Festival (Doi Mae U-Kho)
- Koh Samui Buffalo Fighting
- Constitution Day
- Full Moon Party (Koh Phangan)
- Hmong New Year (Doi Pui)