Sart Thai 2026 is on Sunday, October 11, 2026, which is the 15th moon of the 10th lunar month in Thailand’s traditional calendar. Sart Thai festival is not just a season or a Buddhist celebration, but a moment for family members to pay respects to their ancestors who have passed away, make merit at temples and cook symbolic foods like krayasart. The corresponding Sart Duen Sip traditions are developed in Southern Thailand and include more elaborate family gatherings, temple offering and ceremonies for the spirits of deceased family members.
When Is Sart Thai 2026 in Thailand?
The date for Sart Thai 2026 is October 11, but in some provinces some other events may start earlier.
The date is observed according to the lunar calendar, meaning it will vary yearly in Thailand. Thai PBS sets 11th October for the 15th waning moon of the 10th lunar month in 2026, and it also marks both Sart Thai Day and Sart Duen Sip.
The festival is not to be confused with the Chinese Ghost Festival also known as Sart Chin, which happens in Thailand on August 27, 2026.
What Is the Sart Thai Festival?
Sart Thai is a traditional practice for seasonally performing good deeds, expressing thanks and remembering those who have passed away.
Families go to Buddhist temples, drop food at the temple to monks, hear the sermons and contribute the merits earned through the good things they did to their relatives who have passed away. Food is also traded within the community between family members and neighbours in some communities.
This tradition is especially strong in the south of Thailand where it is referred to as Sart Duen Sip or “Tenth Month Festival. The Thailand Foundation says it is a big occasion for families to pay tribute to ancestors and deceased members of their family.
The Public Relations Department of Thailand says the celebration is a significant merit-making tradition that reflects the gratitude towards ancestors, especially in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Sart Thai Traditional Food: Why Krayasart Matters
Krayasart Is the Festival’s Signature Sweet
The food is one of the most identifiable aspects of Sart Thai traditions, and the most iconic food is krayasart, which is a dish that is most associated with the occasion.
Krayasart is a crunchy-sweet blend made with ingredients including popped rice, young rice, peanuts, sesame and a sweet binding syrup. It’s presented to Buddhist monks and then distributed to family, friends and neighbours.
According to a cultural resource from Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, krayasart making and offering are closely related to the traditional merit-making practice during the mid-year period.
Southern Sart Duen food can also have more profound meaning. The Thailand Foundation classifies sweets as khanom phong (a raft for the afterlife), khanom la (clothing) and khanom deesum (shaped like money for afterlife spirits).
Sart Duen Sip Rituals in Southern Thailand
Among the most unique ceremonies of the ancestor-remembrance tradition are held in Southern Thailand.
The event, traditionally, goes through several stages. Families make a Hmu Rub which is a basket/tray of food and necessary items. These gifts are then transported to temples and given to monks.
Families make merit on the main day and devote it to their ancestors who have passed away. In fact, some temples also set aside food for spirits who don’t have any family members to offer them.
What Is Ching Pret?
One of the best-known Southern customs is Ching Pret.
Food prepared for departed spirits may be set on the altar in the specific area of the temple after religious ceremonies. The leftover sweets are picked up or competed for by members of the community, which is tied to beliefs in merit and prosperity.
Sart Duen Sip is a bit more spectacular than other family observances take place elsewhere in Thailand.
Where to Experience Sart Thai 2026
Travellers interested in Sart Thai 2026 in Thailand should look beyond Bangkok.
The city of Nakhon Si Thammarat is among the best places to enjoy Sart Duen Sip culture. The tradition is said to be well entrenched in the community life of the province by the government’s Public Relations Department.
Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat, is organizing activities from September 27 to October 11, 2026, including the big Sart Duen Sip events on October 11.
The other place related to Sart Thai is Kamphaeng Phet in which the tradition has been historically connected with the province’s famous Kluai Khai bananas and krayasart making.
It is important to note that these are not just tourist festivals, but religious and family customs as well. Modest attire, low voice when in ceremonies, and respect for rules at the temple are appropriate.
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Why Sart Thai Still Matters
At its heart, Thailand’s ancestor festival is about gratitude.
The rituals link younger people with family history and they help to strengthen the Buddhist concepts of earning merit, generosity and compassion. They also help to save regional foods and traditions that would be lost if lifestyles evolve.
The Thailand Foundation highlights that Sart Duen Sip promotes respect for benefactors, ancestors and improves family ties between living members.
FAQs
When is Sart Thai 2026?
Sart Thai 2026 falls on Sunday, October 11, the 15th waning moon of Thailand’s 10th lunar month.
What food is eaten during Sart Thai?
The best-known Sart Thai food is krayasart, traditionally made with grains, peanuts, sesame and sweet syrup. Southern communities also prepare several symbolic sweets.
Is Sart Thai a public holiday?
Thai PBS lists Sart Thai among important observances that are not public holidays, so businesses and government operations do not automatically close nationwide.
Where is Sart Duen Sip celebrated?
It is especially important in Southern Thailand, with Nakhon Si Thammarat strongly associated with large-scale observances.
