What are Cambodia's biggest festivals?
Khmer New Year (April), Water Festival (November), and Pchum Ben (September–October) are the three unmissable celebrations. All feature unique traditions, nationwide participation, and extraordinary atmosphere.
- Khmer New Year: 3-day nationwide party with temple visits and water games
- Water Festival: Dragon boat races and millions gather in Phnom Penh
- Pchum Ben: 15-day sacred Buddhist festival honoring ancestors
Cambodia Festivals & Celebrations
Cambodia's festival calendar is among Southeast Asia's richest, blending Theravada Buddhism, Hindu-influenced royal traditions, and ancient Khmer agricultural rites. Whether you're watching hundreds of dragon boats race along the Tonle Sap or joining candlelit processions at a rural pagoda, festivals offer the deepest cultural immersion Cambodia has to offer.
Most major festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates shift each year. This guide covers Cambodia's most significant celebrations and national holidays with confirmed or estimated 2026 dates, practical travel advice, and cultural context to help you participate respectfully.
Major Festivals
Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey)
ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី
Cambodia's biggest celebration with three days of temple visits, traditional games, water splashing, and family feasts.
Read full guideWater Festival (Bon Om Touk)
បុណ្យអុំទូក
Three-day spectacle of dragon boat races, fireworks, and illuminated floats along the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers.
Read full guidePchum Ben (Ancestors' Day)
ភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ
Cambodia's most sacred Buddhist festival. Families visit pagodas over 15 days to honor deceased ancestors with food offerings.
Read full guideRoyal Ploughing Ceremony (Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol)
Ancient Brahmin ceremony predicting the year's harvest. Royal oxen select from symbolic food trays before crowds at the Royal Palace.
Read full guideKing's Birthday (Preah Rajavareachea Preah Bat Samdech)
Three-day celebration of King Norodom Sihamoni's birthday featuring fireworks, illuminated buildings, and concerts.
Read full guideVisak Bochea (Buddha Day)
វិសាខបូជា
Celebrates Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing. Candlelit processions circle temples at dusk.
Read full guideIndependence Day
ទិវាឯករាជ្យជាតិ
National celebration of Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. Ceremonies, fireworks, and parades at the Independence Monument.
Read full guideVictory Day
ទិវាជ័យជម្នះ
Commemorates the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. Solemn morning ceremonies and evening celebrations honor survivors and victims.
Read full guideConstitution Day
ទិវារដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ
Marks the adoption of Cambodia's 1993 constitution following UN-supervised elections, restoring democracy and the constitutional monarchy.
Read full guideFestival Travel Tips
- Book accommodation early: Hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap fill up 2–4 weeks before major festivals.
- Transport gets packed: Buses and shared taxis are fully booked during Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben.
- Businesses close: Many restaurants, shops, and services close for 1–3 days during public holidays.
- Dress modestly: If visiting pagodas, cover shoulders and knees. Remove shoes before entering.
- Carry cash: ATMs may run out during peak festival periods, especially in smaller towns.
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