Cambodia Public Holidays & Festivals 2026
Complete calendar of public holidays, Buddhist observances, and major festivals with dates, cultural significance, and travel tips
Holiday Overview
Cambodia has 21 public holiday days in 2026 under Sub-decree No. 167 and MLVT Prakas No. 216. Major festivals like Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, and the Water Festival are celebrated with great enthusiasm and can significantly impact travel plans.
Plan Ahead for Major Festivals
Major Festivals
Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey)
បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មីខ្មែរ
Cambodia's most important festival! Three days of celebrations with temple visits, traditional games, water splashing, and family reunions. Expect business closures and crowded travel.
Pchum Ben (Ancestors' Day)
បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ
Festival honoring deceased ancestors. The 15-day Pchum Ben period begins before the holiday (Kann Ben began September 27, 2026), with Cambodians visiting pagodas to offer food to monks. The three public holiday days are October 10-12, 2026, with temple visits and family gatherings.
Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
បុណ្យអុំទូក
Cambodia's most spectacular festival! Boat races on the Tonle Sap River, fireworks, concerts, and millions of visitors. Celebrates the reversal of the Tonle Sap's flow. Book accommodation months ahead!
Interactive Calendar
Click on any highlighted date to see holiday details. Major festivals are shown in gold, public holidays in blue.
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
Full Calendar List
International New Year's Day
ទិវាចូលឆ្នាំសកល
Public holiday celebrating the Gregorian calendar new year. Banks and government offices closed.
Victory over Genocide Day
ទិវាជ័យជម្នះលើរបបប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍
Commemorates the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. National ceremonies held at the Independence Monument.
Valentine's Day
ទិវាបុណ្យនៃក្ដីស្រឡាញ់
Popular among young Cambodians, with celebrations in major cities. Not a public holiday.
International Women's Day
ទិវានារីអន្តរជាតិ
Public holiday celebrating women's achievements. Special events and ceremonies nationwide.
Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey)
បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មីខ្មែរ
Cambodia's most important festival! Three days of celebrations with temple visits, traditional games, water splashing, and family reunions. Expect business closures and crowded travel.
International Labor Day & Visak Bochea Day
ទិវាពលកម្មអន្តរជាតិ
In 2026 International Labor Day and Visak Bochea Day (the most sacred Buddhist holiday, celebrating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death) fall on the same day and are combined into one public holiday. Government offices and banks closed.
King's Birthday
ព្រះរាជពិធីបុណ្យចម្រើនព្រះជន្ម
Public holiday for King Norodom Sihamoni's birthday. Royal ceremonies and decorations throughout Phnom Penh.
Royal Plowing Ceremony (Chrat Preah Nangkol)
បុណ្យច្រត់ព្រះនង្គ័ល
Ancient Brahmanist ritual marking the start of rice planting season. Sacred oxen predict the year's harvest at the Royal Palace.
Queen Mother's Birthday
ព្រះរាជពិធីបុណ្យចម្រើនព្រះជន្មព្រះមហាក្សត្រីយានី
Celebrates Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk's birthday.
Constitution Day
ទិវារដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ
Commemorates the 1993 constitution and restoration of the monarchy.
Pchum Ben (Ancestors' Day)
បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ
Festival honoring deceased ancestors. The 15-day Pchum Ben period begins before the holiday (Kann Ben began September 27, 2026), with Cambodians visiting pagodas to offer food to monks. The three public holiday days are October 10-12, 2026, with temple visits and family gatherings.
King Father's Commemoration Day
ទិវារំលឹកព្រះមហាវីរក្សត្រ នរោត្តម សីហនុ
Anniversary of King Norodom Sihanouk's death. National ceremonies and remembrance events.
Paris Peace Agreements Day
ទិវាកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងសន្តិភាពទីក្រុងប៉ារីស
Anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements. Not a public holiday in 2026 (it is not on the official 2026 list).
King Coronation Day
ព្រះរាជពិធីគ្រងព្រះបរមរាជសម្បត្តិ
Celebrates King Norodom Sihamoni's 2004 coronation. Royal ceremonies and public celebrations.
Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
បុណ្យអុំទូក
Cambodia's most spectacular festival! Boat races on the Tonle Sap River, fireworks, concerts, and millions of visitors. Celebrates the reversal of the Tonle Sap's flow. Book accommodation months ahead!
Independence Day
ទិវាឯករាជ្យជាតិ
Celebrates independence from France in 1953. Military parades and ceremonies at the Independence Monument.
International Human Rights Day
ទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិ
Observance commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Not a public holiday in 2026 (it is not on the official 2026 list).
Peace Day
Cambodia Peace Day, the last public holiday on the 2026 official calendar. Banks and government offices closed.
Travel Tips During Holidays
Best Times to Visit
- • Water Festival: Incredible experience but book 3+ months ahead
- • Khmer New Year: Hot but festive; official holiday April 14-16, though some businesses close for longer
- • Pchum Ben: Spiritual atmosphere; many temple ceremonies
What to Expect
- • Banks and government offices closed on public holidays
- • Tourist attractions remain open (may have reduced hours)
- • Prices surge during Water Festival in Phnom Penh
- • Locals travel home; intercity transport is crowded
Pro Tip: Embrace the Celebrations
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