April 15, 2026, Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek disclosed that this year’s Songkran Festival was celebrated with grandeur, reflecting the vibrance of “Thai Songkran” as a cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. The event has connected and brought together the people worldwide to appreciate Thai culture, tradition, and joy.

In 2026, 42 foreign embassies in Thailand, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, India, Belgium, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and the United States, among others, joined in producing promotional media to showcase the charm of Thai identity through creative and contemporary perspectives. To further strengthen international appreciation and participation in the festival, leading international media, such as AP, Reuters, Euronews, and Xinhua, highlighted the grandeur of this year’s Songkran Festival, reporting extensively on the crowds flocking to water-play venues, and portraying Songkran as one of the world’s most vibrant and spectacular festivals. Their coverage underscored the joyful atmosphere and the blending of traditional culture with modern elements. Newswires, a news agency based in North America, also praised Thai Songkran as the “World Water Festival”, recognizing its significant role in driving Thailand’s economy and tourism.

Additionally, Thailand’s safety measures, both in regulating proper behaviors, preventing accidents, and ensuring a safe environment for both the Thais and tourists, were widely mentioned. The Straits Times highlighted Thailand’s “10 Rules” for safe water play, e.g., prohibiting sexual harassment, and banning smearing of powder without consent and the use of high-pressure water guns, etc. These measures reflect international standards in festival organization.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has projected that during the Songkran Festival (April 11–15, 2026), overall tourism revenue will exceed 30.35 billion Baht, with approx. 500,000 international visitors contributing around 8.1 billion Baht, a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to the Government Spokesperson, the Government is committed to promoting cultural heritage, especially Songkran, as a driver of economic and social opportunity with an aim to ensure that benefits be evenly distributed across all regions, thereby, enhancing

Thailand’s competitiveness on the global stage. The Prime Minister was pleased with the success of Songkran celebrations nationwide, and commended collective efforts of Government agencies, the private sector, and the public for showcasing joyous moments that brought together people from different countries and languages and demonstrating the power of Thai culture to connect smiles, warmth, and friendship across borders.