Pattaya, January 22nd, 2026
Pattaya City is pushing forward with four key tourism and cultural initiatives for the early part of this year, driven by the highly popular “Naklua Walking Street Food Tour” (เดินกินถิ่นนาเกลือ), which has seen exceptional success and is set to continue building excitement through upcoming festivals, including Chinese New Year celebrations, a multi-week music series, and the traditional Wan Lai Songkran events.
The progress was reviewed during a meeting of the Pattaya City Tourism and Culture Committee held at Pattaya City Hall. Mr. Banjong Bantunprayuk, Chairman of the committee, presided over the session to assess advancements across the four flagship projects.
The committee praised the “Naklua Walking Street Food Tour” for significantly elevating its standards this year compared to previous editions. The event has consistently drawn large crowds of locals and tourists every week, thanks to innovative changes. Notable improvements include stunning venue decorations, the addition of a craft market, street art displays, outdoor movie screenings, and the introduction of the adorable mascot “Nong Na Kluea” to create photo opportunities and check-in spots.
While the overall feedback was positive, participants suggested refinements for the next Naklua Walk and Eat Festival in December, such as relocating or improving the outdoor movie screening area, which has been somewhat hidden and less known, resulting in lower attendance. They also recommended adding more relaxed seating zones around the Bodhi Tree plaza to enhance comfort for visitors.
Looking ahead, preparations are underway for the Pattaya Chinese New Year Festival, scheduled for February 17th, 2026. The event will feature sacred offering ceremonies at three key locations: in front of the King Taksin the Great Monument, at Khao Phratamnak (S. Tor. 5), and at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya. Highlights will include the “Thai-Chinese Mr. and Miss Pattaya” contest and performances showcasing blended Thai-Chinese cultural arts.
The Pattaya Music Festival will run over four consecutive weekends: March 6–7 on Pattaya Beach, March 13–14 on Jomtien Beach, March 20–21 at Samae Beach on Koh Larn, and March 27–28 at the Bodhi Tree plaza in Naklua. The series wants to deliver diverse live music experiences across Pattaya’s iconic beachfront locations.
Finally, the city is gearing up for the Naklua-Pattaya Wan Lai Songkran Festival and the traditional merit-making rice-piling ceremony on April 18–19, 2026. Key activities will include alms-giving to monks, the ritual bathing of Buddha images and monks at Wat Chai Mongkol (a royal temple), along with various folk games and performances to preserve cultural heritage and create a lively atmosphere during the Songkran holiday period.
