Royal Barge Procession 2026 on the Chao Phraya River

Wat Arun, where the procession ends · Photo: Manit Monsur via Google

• When: Friday, November 6, 2026; start time not yet published (all day). Full-dress rehearsals Oct 21 and Oct 28 from about 2:30 p.m.
• Where: Chao Phraya River, Wasukri Pier to Wat Arun, Chao Phraya River between Wasukri Pier and Wat Arun, 158 Wang Doem Rd, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600
• Cost: Free to watch from public viewing areas along the river
• Organizer: Royal Thai Navy, for the Royal Kathin Ceremony (visitor information: Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Official Event Page

The Royal Barge Procession returns to the Chao Phraya River on Friday, November 6, 2026, when 52 royal barges carry the Royal Kathin Ceremony from Wasukri Pier downriver to Wat Arun. At the temple, His Majesty the King presents Kathin robes to Buddhist monks, and this year's ceremony honors Her Majesty Queen Suthida's fourth-cycle (48th) birthday anniversary. Watching from the riverbanks is free.

The procession is one of the rarest sights in Bangkok: it is staged only for major royal occasions, not every year. About 2,200 Royal Thai Navy oarsmen crew the barges, which sail in five columns and three lines, forming a flotilla roughly 1,280 meters long and 90 meters wide.

Route

From Wasukri Pier the barges pass Phra Sumen Fort, Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge, Siriraj Hospital, the Grand Palace and the Royal Thai Navy Auditorium before arriving at Wat Arun Ratchawararam.

Rehearsals

If you cannot be in Bangkok on November 6, the Navy's rehearsals follow the same stretch of river, starting at about 2:30 p.m. The two full-dress rehearsals are on Wednesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 28; smaller rehearsals are also scheduled on October 2, 8 and 15.

Where to watch

The public can watch from viewing areas along both banks of the river between Krung Thon Bridge and Wat Arun. The official start time for November 6 had not been published when we checked; confirm it with TAT (call 1672) before you set out, and plan to be in place well before it.

Details checked against the Tourism Authority of Thailand's official announcement, tatnews.org, on September 28, 2026. Dates and times can change; confirm with the organizer before you go.