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Chinese New Year in Phuket
Phuket Chinese New Year 2026 falls on February 17, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. This is a particularly special celebration because the Fire Horse only appears once every 60 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle; the last one was in 1966, and the next won’t come until 2086. With its large ethnic Chinese population descended from Hokkien migrants who arrived during the tin mining era, Phuket hosts one of Thailand’s most colourful Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Bangkok.
Though Chinese New Year is not an official public holiday in Thailand, it’s a time of family gatherings and celebration. Red lanterns go up all around Phuket Town and at the local Chinese shrines weeks before the festival. The streets of Phuket Old Town and its Sino-Portuguese heritage houses take on a festive atmosphere with red and gold decorations everywhere.
Families gather to sweep out their homes, do merit-making activities and prepare feasts to clear out the old and make way for a more fortunate year ahead. Younger family members may eagerly await receiving an “Ang Pao” – a red envelope with money inside – from their elders. Firecrackers are set off to ward off any bad spirits and give a fresh start to the new year.
It’s never easy to nail down exact dates and times of Chinese New Year festival activities in Phuket, but expect to see street parades with dragon and lion dance performers and food stalls along the Old Town roads, including Thalang, Dibuk Road, Phang Nga Road, Rassada Road and Soi Romanee.
Chinese shrines around the island, including the large Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town, will be busy with merit-makers. Queen Sirikit Park near Limelight Mall will likely have live shows and exhibitions during the New Year festival.
Many resorts and restaurants around Phuket will host special Chinese New Year events, usually a buffet dinner with a delectable choice of festive eats like suckling pig, duck, dim sum and other traditional Chinese dishes.
People wear red for good luck and to keep a festive and lively look during the festival. You’ll see much red and Chinese-themed clothing on sale at many shops before and during the New Year.
The Old Phuket Town Festival typically follows the Chinese New Year, expected around February 12-14, 2026 (dates to be confirmed). Each evening, Thalang Road and Soi Romanee are closed to traffic, and the streets fill with food stalls, art vendors, souvenirs, and live music performances. The festival celebrates Phuket’s Baba Peranakan heritage with traditional costumes, rickshaw rides through the historic district, and a light show projected onto heritage buildings.
The Thai Hua Museum is worth a visit during the festival as it offers insight into Phuket’s Chinese history and culture, from the early days of Chinese migration to the island in the 1800s to the present day.
The Year of the Fire Horse
2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse, a rare combination that occurs only once every 60 years. The Horse symbolises strength, freedom, and determination in Chinese culture, while the Fire element adds passion and dynamic energy. In Thai-Chinese communities, this is considered an auspicious year for bold moves and new beginnings. Expect to see horse-themed decorations alongside the traditional dragon and lion imagery throughout Phuket’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
Dates: January 29 – February 5, 2026
Wat Chalong is not a Chinese temple, but every year it hosts a large festival lasting about ten days during the Chinese New Year period. The fair has been running since 1933, originally started by local farmers celebrating a good harvest.
The temple grounds transform into a big open-air carnival with hundreds of food vendors, clothing stalls, plant sellers, and funfair games, including a somewhat rickety Ferris wheel. Each evening brings live shows on the outdoor stage, mostly Thai country music (luk-thung) and traditional performances, while families make merit in the main temple hall. The fair opens in the early afternoon but really comes alive after sunset.
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Tips for Visitors
- Wear red or gold for good luck during the festival
- The main street parades with dragon and lion dances typically happen on the second day (February 18)
- Exact schedules are usually announced only a few weeks before the event
- Jui Tui Shrine on Ranong Road is the spiritual centre of celebrations
- Queen Sirikit Park near Limelight Mall often hosts live shows and exhibitions
- Traffic in Phuket Old Town gets heavy during festival evenings; consider arriving early or using a taxi
Map of Chinese Shrines in Phuket
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