Thailand
Bo Sang Umbrella Festival 2027: expected 15–17 January in Bo Sang village near Chiang Mai
At a glance
- Dates
- Next: 15–17 January 2027 (est.)
- Where
- Bo Sang village, San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai
- Getting there
- Hire a car or take a taxi from central Chiang Mai
- Cost
- Not listed
- Limits
- Do not touch umbrellas left to dry; ask before close-ups of people
The 2026 edition has passed
Dates last checked: 13 October 2026
The festival
By 2018 the umbrella centre's youngest craftsperson was 40
A Bo Sang umbrella starts as a bamboo frame covered in sa, a paper made from mulberry bark, and only then goes to a painter. The village sits about 9 km east of Chiang Mai in San Kamphaeng district and holds its umbrella festival on the third weekend of January.
Nobody has a written record of how the craft began. The local story is that a monk named Kruba Intha was given an umbrella by a Burmese traveller near the border, tracked down the village that made it, learned the craft and brought it home, possibly as long as two centuries ago. Neighbouring villages used to make one part each and assemble them into a finished umbrella.
In 1977 Thavil Buacheen opened the Umbrella Making Centre in the village with 12 craftspeople. By the time Chiang Mai CityLife reported on it in 2018, it employed more than 100, and the youngest was already 40.
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Details
Bo Sang is outside Chiang Mai's old city, so you need to arrange a car or ride. The next festival should fall on the third weekend of January 2027.
Dates: the third weekend of January
The 41st festival ran from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January 2026. It is held on the third weekend of January, so 2027 is expected on 15–17 January. The organisers confirm the dates each year.
Location and getting there
Bo Sang is in Ton Pao subdistrict, San Kamphaeng district, about 9 km east of Chiang Mai. It is outside the old city, so you need transport.
A hired car or ride-hailing is the most direct option. The San Kamphaeng hot springs and Muang On cave are in the same direction and fit into the same day.
What's on: parades, the bicycle parade and the pageant
Using the 2026 schedule as a guide:
Daily, 10 am–9 pm: umbrella lanes, decorations and painting demonstrations, with a chance to try painting yourself. The women's umbrella bicycle parade was listed at 2 pm and 3.30 pm.
Friday: Kad Mua Lanna traditional market 10 am–2 pm, opening ceremony and float parade 4–8 pm.
Saturday: market 10 am–9 pm, umbrella-painting contest 10 am–2 pm, Thai–Indonesian twin-city cultural performances, and the official ceremony 4–8 pm.
Sunday: Miss Bo Sang Umbrella pageant from 7 pm.
How the umbrellas are made
The ribs are cut from bamboo and covered with sa (mulberry-bark) paper, and a painter adds flowers, birds or other designs once the paper is on. Neighbouring villages used to make one component each before the parts were assembled.
The village's Umbrella Making Centre was founded in 1977 by Thavil Buacheen with 12 craftspeople and had more than 100 by 2018.
Having something painted
Bo Sang painters work on more than umbrellas: phone cases, bags and fans are common requests, for a fee. Settle the design, placement and price before they start, and hold the item away from the fresh paint until it dries.
Time and stamina
The programme runs from morning into the evening and the umbrella lanes are outdoors. January is Chiang Mai's dry season, with strong daytime sun, so bring sun protection and water. The opening parade and the pageant are both in the evening, so arrange your ride back to Chiang Mai in advance if you stay for the evening.
Etiquette
The painters and craftspeople are working. Keep a little distance while they work, don't touch umbrellas left out to dry, and ask before taking close-ups or photographing people.
Good to know
- When
- 16 to 18 January 2026 (the 41st festival)
- Where
- Bo Sang village, Ton Pao subdistrict, San Kamphaeng district, about 9 km east of Chiang Mai
- 2026 programme
- Umbrella lanes and painting demonstrations daily 10 am–9 pm. Opening ceremony and float parade Friday 4–8 pm. Miss Bo Sang Umbrella pageant from 7 pm Sunday.
- Craft
- Sa (mulberry-bark) paper stretched over a bamboo frame, then hand-painted
- Origin
- Local legend credits the monk Kruba Intha with learning the craft from a Burmese umbrella, possibly around two centuries ago. There is no official record.
- Umbrella Making Centre
- Founded in 1977 by Thavil Buacheen with 12 craftspeople. It had more than 100 by 2018.
FAQ
4
How do you get there from Chiang Mai?
Bo Sang lies east of the city in Ton Pao subdistrict, San Kamphaeng district. A hired car or ride-hailing is the most direct option, and the San Kamphaeng hot springs and Muang On cave are on the same side of town.
How are Bo Sang umbrellas made?
Sa (mulberry-bark) paper is stretched over a bamboo frame and then hand-painted. In the past, several neighbouring villages each made one part and the pieces were assembled into a finished umbrella.
What is on during the festival?
In 2026 the opening ceremony and float parade were on Friday, a painting contest on Saturday and the Miss Bo Sang Umbrella pageant on Sunday evening, with umbrella lanes and painting demonstrations every day. The bicycle parade and the pageant are regular fixtures.
Can you have something of your own painted?
Yes. Bo Sang painters also decorate phone cases, bags, fans and other items for a fee. Agree on the design and price before they start.
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