Songkran Festival › Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao)
Lao New Year 2027: Pi Mai Lao in Luang Prabang and Vientiane
Pi Mai Lao is the Lao new year, celebrated in mid-April with water, temple visits and processions, at the same time as Songkran in Thailand. Here is when it falls, what Luang Prabang ran in 2026, where the water fights are, how to get there from Bangkok and what to know before you go. Checked 24 Oct 2026.
At a glance
Pi Mai Lao 2027
Not announced The holiday is “as usual” 14 to 16 April, which in 2027 would be Wednesday to Friday
2026
Public holiday Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 April
Luang Prabang
A 10-day festival in 2026, 11 to 20 April, with processions and the Phra Bang Buddha bathing
Say
“Sok di pi mai”: Happy New Year (being checked)
From Bangkok
A direct sleeper train to Vientiane, about 12 hours (being checked)
Where to celebrate
Luang Prabang runs a 10-day festival of processions; Vientiane celebrates over the three holiday days. Details are from 2026.
Luang Prabang · 10 days
Luang Prabang
The old royal capital stretches Pi Mai over ten days. In 2026 the district announced the Nang Sangkhane (Miss New Year) pageant, the Hae Vor procession, the bathing of the sacred Phra Bang Buddha image at the National Museum, an elephant procession, sand stupas at Don Say Moungkhoun and food and craft markets (KPL).
2026: 11–20 April. Elephant procession on 13 April, Phra Bang procession on 17 April (being checked).
Getting there: Fly in, or take the Laos–China Railway from Vientiane.
2027 not announced
Sources: KPL (Lao news agency), Asia King Travel
Vientiane · capital
Vientiane
The capital celebrates over the three holiday days, with Buddha bathing at the temples and water play in the streets. In 2026 Beerlao’s free HYDRO BEATS water party was on the Mekong riverfront in front of Vat Chan.
2026: 14–16 April public holiday.
Getting there: Direct sleeper from Bangkok, arriving at Khamsavath station, about 7 km from downtown (being checked).
2027 not announced
Sources: Vientiane Times, Vientiane Times (advertorial)
Six provinces · free, 18+
HYDRO BEATS water parties
Lao Brewery ran the same three-day music and water event in six provinces at once in 2026: Vientiane, Luang Prabang (Lane Xang Square), Oudomxay, Thakhek, Savannakhet and Champasak.
2026: 14–16 April, free entry for people aged 18 and over.
Getting there: Venues were public squares, riverfronts and stadiums in each city.
2027 not announced
Sources: Vientiane Times (advertorial)
Next door
Songkran in Thailand
Thailand’s Songkran runs on the same days with the same water. The 2027 Thai holidays are already fixed: Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April, so you could see both.
2026: Big water festivals in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket; Nong Khai is on the border with Vientiane.
Getting there: Songkran 2027 dates · Bangkok · Khon Kaen
2027 dates confirmed
Sources: Songkran 2027
Luang Prabang programme
What Luang Prabang ran in 2026
The three public holiday days have their own meaning: the last day of the old year (Sangkhan Luang), a day that belongs to neither year (Sangkhan Nao), and New Year’s Day (being checked). It is marked by temple visits, Baci ceremonies, merit-making and pouring water over Buddha images and elders to wash away the bad luck of the old year (Vientiane Times).
Luang Prabang stretches it into ten days. The times below are from the 2026 schedule as published by Asia King Travel; we are still checking them against the official programme. The 2027 programme has not been announced.
11–12 Apr
Nang Sangkhan pageant, preliminary and final (being checked)
19:30
13 Apr
Elephant procession (being checked)
07:30, Wat Mai to Wat Xieng Thong
14 Apr
Sand stupa building (being checked)
From 13:00, Don Xai Mungkhun across the Mekong
16 Apr
New Year almsgiving, about 300 monks (being checked)
05:30, in front of Wat Sen
17 Apr
Phra Bang procession and bathing (being checked)
08:30, Royal Palace to Wat Mai
20 Apr
Phra Bang returned to the Royal Palace; festival closes (being checked)
Morning
Sources: KPL, Asia King Travel.
Pi Mai in numbers
From the 2026 announcements.
10 days
of festival in Luang Prabang, 11 to 20 April 2026
3 days
of public holiday, 14 to 16 April
6
provinces with free HYDRO BEATS water parties
21:25
the nightly direct train from Bangkok to Vientiane (being checked)
Sources: KPL, Vientiane Times, Vientiane Times, Seat 61.
Before you go
Travel advice for Laos
From the UK government’s Laos travel advice (checked 24 Oct 2026). Check your own government’s advice too.
For how the water and the customs work next door, see our water fight guide.
Motorbike hire
Don’t leave your passport as a deposit. The UK reports scams where rented bikes are stolen or damaged on purpose.
Drinks
There have been deaths from methanol in drinks in Laos, including from licensed bars in tourist areas. Never leave a drink unattended.
Drugs
Zero tolerance, including cannabis. Trafficking can carry the death penalty.
Temples and elders
Cover shoulders and knees at temples. Water for monks and elders is poured gently, not thrown.
Where to stay in Luang Prabang
Most of the 2026 processions ran between the temples and the Royal Palace in the old town.
In the old town
Walk to Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Mai and the Royal Palace, where the processions ran in 2026.
Across the rivers
Hotels across the Nam Khan or the Mekong are a tuk-tuk or boat ride from the old town.
The links open Klook’s full Luang Prabang hotel list; search by area or use the map to narrow it. We may earn a commission if you book; it costs you nothing extra and never decides what we list. Staying in the capital instead? Vientiane hotels on Klook.
Questions people ask
When is Lao New Year 2027?
Not announced yet. The Lao public holiday is usually 14 to 16 April, which in 2027 would be Wednesday to Friday. In 2026 the Prime Minister’s Office announced the dates in late December.
What is Pi Mai Lao?
The Lao new year, celebrated in mid-April with temple visits, Buddha bathing, Baci ceremonies, merit-making and water splashing to wash away the bad luck of the old year.
Where is the best place to celebrate Lao New Year?
Luang Prabang has the longest celebration, ten days in 2026, with processions, an elephant parade and the Phra Bang Buddha bathing. Vientiane celebrates with Buddha bathing at the temples and water play in the streets over the three holiday days.
Is Lao New Year the same as Songkran?
They are neighbouring new year festivals on almost the same days, both with water and merit-making. Pi Mai is Laos’s; Songkran is Thailand’s.
How do I get from Bangkok to Laos for Pi Mai?
A direct sleeper train has run from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat station to Vientiane since July 2024, leaving at 21:25 and arriving at about 09:05 (Seat 61; times can change). From Vientiane, the Laos–China Railway goes to Luang Prabang.
How do you say Happy New Year in Lao?
“Sok di pi mai” is the most common greeting. We are still checking this against a Lao-language source.
Get the Pi Mai 2027 dates
One short email when Laos announces the 2027 holiday and Luang Prabang its programme, plus the Songkran news from Thailand. No spam, and you can unsubscribe in one click.