The Chao Phraya river skyline from the ICONSIAM side. Photo above: 老來無所事事 via Google
New Year's Eve in Bangkok falls on Thursday, December 31, 2026, and both it and New Year's Day, Friday, January 1, 2027, are public holidays on the Bank of Thailand's calendar. The city's big countdowns are free outdoor shows at ICONSIAM on the Chao Phraya River and at centralwOrld in the Ratchaprasong shopping district, both with fireworks at midnight. As of October 7, 2026, no venue or the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had announced a programme for the countdown to 2027, so the events, closures and train hours below are from the countdown to 2026, held on December 31, 2025.
Facts come from TAT, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Government Public Relations Department, the venues' own releases and news reports of official announcements, read on October 7, 2026. Plans are usually announced in December, so check again then.
When is the New Year's Eve countdown in Bangkok?
The countdown is on the night of December 31. In 2026 that is a Thursday, and with January 1 also a holiday, many people will have a four-day weekend. For the previous countdown the government added a special holiday on Friday, January 2, 2026; the Bank of Thailand's 2027 list showed no such extra day when we checked.
The large events start earlier than the night itself. For the countdown to 2026, TAT listed ICONSIAM's programme from December 27 to 31 and two-night events from December 30 at ChangChui and Rajamangala National Stadium.
What are the main New Year's Eve countdowns in Bangkok?
These are the Bangkok events on TAT's calendar for the countdown to 2026, with details from the BMA and the organisers. Expect the main venues to return; line-ups and dates will change.
| Event | Where | 2025 dates | What it was |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing Thailand Countdown | ICONSIAM, River Park, Khlong San | December 27 to 31 | Five nights of concerts and, at midnight, a sky show of eco-friendly fireworks, drones and pyrotechnics stretching more than 1,400 meters along the river. ICONSIAM reported over 1.8 million visitors across the five days. |
| centralwOrld Bangkok Countdown | centralwOrld, Ratchaprasong | December 31 | A T-pop concert, cityscape fireworks and a drone show synchronised with the district's giant screens. Organiser Central Pattana reported more than 350,000 people. |
| One Bangkok Countdown Celebration | One Bangkok Park, Pathum Wan | December 31, 5 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. | First countdown at One Bangkok, with concerts and computer-controlled fireworks; a public zone for about 4,000 people plus reserve space for more than 10,000. |
| Extravaganza Sukhumvit Countdown | Asok, Phrom Phong intersection, Benchasiri Park and Thong Lo | December 31 | Celebrations and fireworks along Sukhumvit; the approved fireworks sites included Emporium, Emsphere and EmQuartier. |
| Asiatique's Thailand Countdown | Asiatique The Riverfront | December 31 | One of the BMA's approved riverside fireworks sites. |
| ChangChui Fest Countdown | ChangChui Creative Park, Bang Phlat | December 30 to 31 | Thonburi-side creative park event with fireworks. |
| Neon Countdown | Rajamangala National Stadium, Bang Kapi | December 30 to 31 | Stadium music event; check the organiser for tickets. |
ICONSIAM, centralwOrld and One Bangkok also livestreamed their concerts in 2025 on their own Facebook and YouTube channels, which is the easy option if you would rather stay in your hotel.
Where can you watch New Year fireworks in Bangkok?
Every fireworks display in Bangkok needs BMA permission, and for the night of December 31, 2025 the BMA approved 20 sites. The list it published included:
- On the river: ICONSIAM, Asiatique The Riverfront, Capella Bangkok, Chatrium Riverside Hotel, Montien Riverside Hotel and The Salil Riverside Hotel.
- In the city centre: centralwOrld and One Bangkok in Pathum Wan, and the Sukhumvit malls Emporium, Emsphere and EmQuartier.
- Further out: Seacon Square Srinakarin in Prawet, Terminal 21 in Bang Kho Laem, Rajamangala National Stadium, ChangChui and several restaurants and cafes.
The river show at ICONSIAM is the largest. Before booking a riverside hotel for its fireworks, check whether the display comes with a paid New Year dinner or party and where guests watch from. A rooftop bar is another way to see several displays at once; our guide to Bangkok rooftop bars covers dress codes and booking, and our dinner cruise guide explains the boats. New Year's Eve sailings sell out and are priced separately, so read the date on the booking page.
Which roads close for the countdown?
For centralwOrld's countdown, the Metropolitan Police Bureau closed six roads to all vehicles. The 2026 order will be published in December; these were the closures for December 31, 2025:
| Road | Section | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Ratchadamri Road | Pratunam intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection | Noon December 31 to 5 a.m. January 1 |
| Ratchadamri Road | Ratchaprasong intersection to Mahadlekluang 1 Alley | 4 p.m. December 31 to 2 a.m. January 1 |
| Rama I Road | Chaloem Phao intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. |
| Phloen Chit Road | Ratchaprasong intersection to Chit Lom intersection | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. |
| Ratchaprarop Road | Nikhom Makkasan intersection to Pratunam intersection | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. |
| Phetchaburi Road | Chit Lom intersection to Pratunam intersection | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. |
No vehicles, taxis included, can use these sections while they are closed. The police traffic hotline is 1197 and the emergency number is 191.
Do the BTS and MRT run late on New Year's Eve?
Yes, in recent years. On December 31, 2025, all four MRT lines ran until 2 a.m., the Ministry of Transport and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority announced, with stations and park-and-ride buildings open later than usual. The BTS operator also extended the Sukhumvit and Silom lines until 2 a.m.; the last train from Siam to all stations left at 2:45 a.m., and the Gold Line's last train from the station beside ICONSIAM left at 2:25 a.m. (BTS times as published by the operator and reported by travel sites; we could not open the operator's own notice). Expect a similar extension for the countdown to 2027, and confirm the times in late December.
For One Bangkok, the organisers pointed visitors to MRT Lumphini and BTS Phloen Chit and ran six electric shuttles from BTS Phloen Chit until 2 a.m. The BTS advised using a Rabbit card with enough value loaded, or buying tickets in advance, to save time; our guide to the BTS and MRT passes explains the options, and getting around Bangkok covers boats and taxis.
What are the rules on fireworks and alcohol?
Fireworks and lanterns. For New Year 2026 the BMA banned the public from setting off fireworks, sparklers, sky rockets and sky lanterns, and ran 24-hour fire watch in every district during the seven-day holiday period. Licensed displays at the approved venues are a separate matter; do not bring your own fireworks or release a lantern.
Alcohol. The BMA also asked people to avoid drinking for a safer celebration. Retail alcohol sales in Thailand are permitted from 11 a.m. to midnight under rules published in the Royal Gazette in May 2026, which ended the old afternoon ban; licensed bars, hotels and event areas follow their own permitted hours.
Crowds. The UK government's Thailand travel advice tells visitors to carry valuables and cash securely against pickpocketing and to watch for bag-snatchers. See our Is Bangkok safe guide for more.
Can you welcome the New Year at a temple?
Yes. New Year prayer services, held late on December 31 and continuing past midnight, are one of the most popular Thai ways to start the year. For the countdown to 2026, the Nation highlighted seven Bangkok temples for these services: Wat Saket (the Golden Mount), Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Suthat, Wat Mahathat, Wat Hong Rattanaram and Wat Benchamabophit. The services were also broadcast live on television and by the Department of Religious Affairs on Facebook. Dress as you would for any temple visit, with shoulders and knees covered; our Wat Arun and Wat Pho guides have the details.
Where should you stay for New Year's Eve?
Decide between the river and Ratchaprasong. A riverside hotel puts you within reach of ICONSIAM's show and the hotel displays on the BMA list; see the best riverside hotels in Bangkok. A hotel near the BTS around Siam, Chit Lom or Phloen Chit puts you on the rail line to centralwOrld and One Bangkok, away from the closed roads; see hotels near the BTS. Our where to stay in Bangkok guide compares the areas. The end of December is the busiest time of the year, so book early.
For the rest of the season, our December in Bangkok guide lists opening times over the holidays and the weather, and January in Bangkok picks up from New Year's Day. The Bangkok events calendar has other dates.
Sources: Bank of Thailand, financial institutions holidays 2026 and 2027, TAT Newsroom, Countdown 2026 events calendar, The Nation, ICONSIAM countdown, ICONSIAM release, January 2, 2026, Central Pattana release, January 2026, The Nation, BMA inspection of One Bangkok, The Nation, BMA-approved fireworks sites, Government PR Department, centralwOrld road closures, Government PR Department, MRT extended hours, Thaiest, BTS New Year's Eve hours, The Nation, BMA fireworks and lantern ban, Business Today, alcohol sales hours, The Nation, New Year prayer temples, UK FCDO Thailand safety. Checked October 7, 2026.
Yes, if you like big free outdoor shows. The countdowns at ICONSIAM and centralwOrld both end with fireworks; ICONSIAM reported more than 1.8 million visitors over its five nights in 2025, and centralwOrld more than 350,000 on the night. Expect heavy crowds and closed roads.
The largest show is on the river at ICONSIAM, where the 2025 display stretched more than 1,400 meters. The BMA approved 20 fireworks sites for the night, including Asiatique, centralwOrld, One Bangkok and several riverside hotels. Rooftop bars and dinner cruises sell tickets for views.
Yes. December 31, 2026 and January 1, 2027 are both on the Bank of Thailand's holiday list, so banks are closed. The government added an extra holiday on January 2 last year; none was listed for 2027 when we checked.
In 2025 it did: the BTS ran until 2 a.m. on January 1, with a last train from Siam at 2:45 a.m., and all four MRT lines ran until 2 a.m. The times for the countdown to 2027 had not been announced when we checked.
For centralwOrld's 2025 countdown, police closed six roads around Ratchaprasong, including Rama I, Phloen Chit and Ratchadamri, mostly from 4 p.m. on December 31 to 2 a.m. Use the BTS rather than a taxi.
No. The BMA banned the public from setting off fireworks, sparklers, sky rockets and sky lanterns for New Year 2026. Only displays approved by the BMA, such as the big countdown shows, go ahead.
Many go to the countdown concerts, and many attend New Year prayer services at temples, which run late on December 31 into the new year. Temples such as Wat Saket, Wat Arun and Wat Pho hosted services for the countdown to 2026.