Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 Ignites with Grand Parade in Bangkok

Maha Songkran World Water Fest 2025

Thailand has launched the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 in a dazzling celebration in central Bangkok. Running from April 11 to 15 at Sanam Luang, this festival marks the centerpiece of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports Year 2025. The Thailand Summer Festival campaign highlights Thai heritage, creativity, and cultural unity.

The day’s celebrations kicked off with the Maha Songkran Parade, attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet members, ambassadors, and the National Soft Power Strategy Committee. This parade signaled the start of the UNESCO-recognized Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, which continued with the official events at Sanam Luang.

Prime Minister, H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, officially opened the event, stating, “The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 brings together soft power, technology, and creativity to deliver a memorable experience that boosts tourism, drives the economy, and showcases Thailand’s ability to host world-class events.”

Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Sorawong Thienthong, added, “This festival reflects Thailand’s unique cultural identity and readiness to host large-scale events. It reinforces our global image and supports the government’s goal of positioning Thailand among the world’s top 10 festival destinations.”

Starting at 17:30, a parade featuring eight themed floats went from Democracy Monument along Ratchadamnoen Avenue to Sanam Luang. The floats beautifully embodied the spirit and symbolism of Songkran through distinctively Thai narratives.

Highlights featured The River of Blessings, which includes the majestic Naga, a mythical serpent thought to symbolize prosperity through water. Additionally, Colours of the Seasons celebrated Thailand’s tropical fruits—most prominently durian, dubbed the “king of fruit”—along with floating markets that represent abundance. The Flavour of Siam paid homage to UNESCO-recognized Tomyum Kung, highlighting it as a national dish that embodies Thai wisdom and harmony with nature. The Noble Elephant honored Thailand’s cherished elephants for their cultural and historical importance, while Betta Brilliance showcased the striking Thai fighting fish, emblematic of national pride and creativity.

The parade featured diverse themes such as the Spirit of the Fairground, reflecting the joyful nature of traditional temple fairs; Tuk-Tuk Beats, which merged Thai pop culture with festive vibrance through the iconic tuk-tuk; and Songkran Through Young Eyes, showcasing the festival from children's viewpoints as both guardians and future innovators of Thai cultural expression. Furthermore, a second parade occurred at Sanam Luang on April 13, with all floats available for public viewing until April 15.

From 15:00 to 23:00 daily, Sanam Luang hosts a rich cultural experience featuring live performances, regional exhibits, traditional ceremonies, and interactive areas that showcase Thailand’s diverse heritage.

The Main Stage runs from 16:00 to 23:00, showcasing a nightly lineup of Thailand’s top artists, including Bodyslam, Carabao, Jeff Satur, Polycat, The Toys, 4EVE, Joey Boy, Zeal, Tilly Birds, Paper Planes, Ink Waruntorn, Musketeers, Lazyloxy, Paradox, Slapkiss, YourMood, Ja Nongpanee, Lamyai Haithongkham, and more. Attendees will enjoy not only modern concerts but also classical and cultural performances, such as intricate khon masked dramas, orchestral presentations, and vintage ballroom dances inspired by the Suntharaporn band. Each evening concludes with a synchronized drone light show, featuring 1,200 drones lighting up the Bangkok skyline.

In addition to the main stage, a smaller performance area showcases traditional Thai cultural acts like shadow puppetry, Nora dance, Hun Krabok puppetry, Pong Lang music, victory drums, and long drums, alongside modern performances.

The Regional Identity Zone, open daily from 15.00 to 22.00 Hrs., brings Thailand’s five regions to life through architecture, crafts, and immersive experiences. The North showcases Lanna-style architecture inspired by Wat Lok Moli, with glowing lanterns, traditional coffee brewing, and flag crafting. The Northeast features the grandeur of Phimai Historical Park and colourful Phi Ta Khon masks, alongside pottery and bead-stringing workshops. Central Thailand presents Ayutthaya-inspired prang towers from Wat Phutthaisawan, paired with bamboo weaving and kite-making under creative lighting. The East evokes a modern beach atmosphere with glowing LED jellyfish, coral reef decor, and upcycled crafts using ocean waste. The South celebrates coastal life with vibrant Nora beads, batik painting, traditional boats, and kite displays — all set within an illuminated seaside setting.

The “Thai Charms” Zone welcomes guests to explore the “5 Must Do in Thailand”: Must Taste authentic Thai desserts, Must Try Muay Thai or a Thai massage, Must Buy local favorites such as elephant pants and herbal inhalers, Must See historical boxing shows, and Must Seek traditional attire for memorable souvenir photos.

Festival attendees can immerse themselves in a traditional Thai Temple Fair, which includes a haunted house, an open-air cinema, a Ferris wheel, and sand pagoda construction. Traditional New Year customs feature bathing Buddha images and water-pouring ceremonies to pay respect to elders.

The Water Play Zone features enormous spill buckets, a water station for Songkran celebrations, musical fountain performances, and EDM sets by DJs like JJetrin, Bubble Paint, Lazyprince, Leonie, Tong Apollo, B-Bass, and others.

Over 100 vendor booths present regional cuisine, crafts, and local goods from throughout Thailand. The event demonstrates its dedication to sustainability through the GCYOU-TURN initiative, which transforms plastic water bottles into reusable products on-site.

The Festival Web App offers real-time updates, maps, and a nationwide listing of Songkran events to enhance visitor convenience. Free shuttle services run daily from Central Pinklao and MRT Sanam Chai Station between 15:00 and 23:00 hours.

The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 celebrates the UNESCO-listed Thai New Year and reinforces Thailand’s status as a premier cultural destination. This event harmonizes tradition, innovation, and festive spirit, inviting global attendees to enjoy Thailand at its most vibrant. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) forecasts that Songkran 2025 will generate over 26.5 billion Baht in tourism revenue from April 12 to 16, reflecting an 8% increase compared to the previous year. This estimate includes 476,000 international visitors contributing over 7.32 billion Baht, alongside more than 4.4 million domestic travelers generating 19.24 billion Baht.