{"schema_version":"v1","type":"trip_article","slug":"phuket-vegetarian-festival-2026","locale":"en","canonical_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/en/trips/phuket-vegetarian-festival-2026","updated_at":"2026-10-15T00:00:00+00:00","headline":"Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2026: 10–18 October in Phuket Old Town","one_sentence_summary":"The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is nine days of fasting for the island's Hokkien community: palanquins process through the old town daily, mediums pierce their cheeks, and stalls under yellow flags sell only jay food.","facts":[{"label":"Festival dates","value":"10–18 October 2026 (days one to nine of the ninth lunar month). The Go Teng poles go up at 17:09 on the evening of 9 October to open the festival, and the gods are sent off on the night of 18 October","source":"https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/phuket-vegetarian-festival-set-for-october-9-18-with-140000-visitors-expected-567347","sourceLabel":"Pattaya Mail (NNT)"},{"label":"Earplugs","value":"Old Town pharmacies sell cheap earplugs during the festival","source":"https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","sourceLabel":"TAT News"},{"label":"Yellow flags and jay food","value":"Yellow flags with red characters mark places serving jay food: no meat, eggs, dairy or alcohol, and no garlic, onion, shallot, chives or leek","source":"https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-vegetarian-festival","sourceLabel":"phuket101.net"},{"label":"Heritage status","value":"Listed as intangible cultural heritage by Thailand's Department of Cultural Promotion in 2018","source":"https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","sourceLabel":"TAT News"}],"city_tabs":{"phuket":{"title":"Phuket","bullets":["Jui Tui and Bang Neow shrines in the old town are where most processions start","The 18 October farewell runs along Thalang Road, Phuket Road and Surin Circle towards Saphan Hin","Old Town pharmacies sell cheap earplugs during the festival"],"source":"https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","sourceLabel":"TAT News"}},"faq":[{"q":"When is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2026?","a":"In 2026, 10–18 October, after the shrines raised their poles on the evening of 9 October; the gods are sent off on the last night. 2027 is expected on 30 September–8 October.","sources":["https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","https://www.hko.gov.hk/tc/gts/time/calendar/pdf/files/2027.pdf","https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/phuket-vegetarian-festival-set-for-october-9-18-with-140000-visitors-expected-567347","https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/phuket-vegetarian-festival-brings-hokkien-traditions-to-life-from-october-10-to-18-567471","https://www.thailandhighlights.com/thailand/phuket-vegetarian-festival"]},{"q":"Why do yellow flags hang along the streets?","a":"They mark places serving jay food, which leaves out even garlic and onion.","sources":["https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-vegetarian-festival"]},{"q":"What is Ma Song?","a":"Spirit mediums who walk in the processions with pierced cheeks.","sources":["https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-vegetarian-festival","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket_Vegetarian_Festival"]},{"q":"What should you wear to the festival?","a":"White if you have it, never black.","sources":["https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-vegetarian-festival"]},{"q":"Do you need tickets?","a":"No; the shrines and processions are free.","sources":["https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-vegetarian-festival"]}],"sources":["https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","https://www.thailandhighlights.com/thailand/phuket-vegetarian-festival","https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/phuket-vegetarian-festival-brings-hokkien-traditions-to-life-from-october-10-to-18-567471","https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/phuket-vegetarian-festival-set-for-october-9-18-with-140000-visitors-expected-567347","https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-vegetarian-festival","https://www.hko.gov.hk/tc/gts/time/calendar/pdf/files/2027.pdf","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket_Vegetarian_Festival"],"key_takeaways":[{"text":"The festival follows days one to nine of the ninth lunar month; its Gregorian dates move each year. In 2027 it is expected to run 30 September–8 October.","date":"2026-10-10","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.hko.gov.hk/tc/gts/time/calendar/pdf/files/2027.pdf","source_label":"Hong Kong Observatory 2027 calendar"},{"text":"On the night of 11 October, more than 40 shrines join a night procession through Phuket city, starting with a prayer ceremony.","date":"2026-10-10","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","source_label":"TAT News"},{"text":"The TAT Phuket office sets up an offering table outside its office from 06:00 to 12:00 on 16 October to receive the Jui Tui Shrine procession.","date":"2026-10-10","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.tatnews.org/?p=89204","source_label":"TAT News"}],"reading_outline":[{"id":"executive-summary","label":"Summary"},{"id":"facts","label":"Key facts"},{"id":"city-routes","label":"Places and routes"},{"id":"faq","label":"FAQ"},{"id":"planning","label":"Trip planning"}],"topic":{"chain":["trips","thailand-festivals","phuket-vegetarian-festival","phuket-vegetarian-festival-2026"]},"status":"published","hero_image":{"src":"/hero/phuket-vegetarian-festival-2026.webp","alt":"Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2026: 10–18 October in Phuket Old Town"},"editorial":{"tagline":"Before dawn, firecrackers clear the way for the gods","paragraphs":["Shrines across Phuket raise their Go Teng poles on the evening before the opening, and nine days of fasting begin the next day. The festival is usually traced to 1825, when a Chinese opera troupe performing in Kathu fell ill, held a fasting ceremony and recovered, and the Hokkien community has held it every year since. Stalls flying yellow flags with red characters sell jay food, made without meat, eggs, dairy, garlic or onion.","Throughout the festival, palanquins of the Nine Emperor Gods are carried through Phuket city every day, and households along the route set up offering tables outside their doors. The mediums in the processions are called Ma Song. Early in the morning they pierce their cheeks with blades and skewers inside the shrine grounds before joining the procession, and devotees believe that once a deity descends, the Ma Song take on the community's misfortune.","Two purification rites also take place during the festival. In Koi Han, devotees cross a bridge to shed bad luck and receive the seal of the Nine Emperor Gods. In Koi Hoi, they walk barefoot over hot coals. Firecrackers start before dawn, and in the belief they clear a path for the gods.","On the last night, the Jade Emperor is sent back to heaven. The palanquins of the Nine Emperor Gods are then carried along Thalang Road, Phuket Road and Surin Circle, all the way to Saphan Hin."]},"guide":{"lede":"The processions start early: most shrines set off between 6:00 and 8:00, and the mediums pierce their cheeks in the shrine grounds before that. Firecrackers go from before dawn into the night: bring earplugs, long sleeves and closed shoes.","sections":[{"heading":"How the dates work","body":"The festival always falls on **days one to nine of the ninth lunar month**. Its Gregorian dates move every year and different sources often disagree; the lunar dates are the safest reference. The evening before it opens, each shrine raises a Go Teng pole to welcome the gods, and lowers it nine days later."},{"heading":"The 2026 schedule","body":"9 October, evening: each shrine raises its Go Teng pole to open the festival.\n\n11–18 October: daily Iw Keng processions of palanquins, flags and ceremonial signs through Phuket city.\n\n11 October, evening: a night procession joined by more than 40 shrines, starting with a prayer ceremony.\n\n16 October, 06:00–12:00: the TAT Phuket office sets up an offering table outside its office for the Jui Tui Shrine procession.\n\n18 October, evening: the Jade Emperor is sent off at around 22:30, followed by the farewell to the Nine Emperor Gods towards Saphan Hin."},{"heading":"Procession start times","body":"Most shrines set off between 6:00 and 8:00, for example Bang Neow at 6:00, Kathu at 6:45 and Jui Tui at 8:00. The mediums are pierced in the shrine grounds from about 5:30 or 6:00; arrive earlier if you want to see that. Times change from day to day and shrine to shrine, and each shrine posts its own."},{"heading":"Safety around piercings and firecrackers","body":"At the heart of the processions, mediums pierce their cheeks with blades and skewers, and up close there is blood. Firecrackers go off from before dawn into the night, are very loud and can burn clothes. If you are squeamish about blood, sensitive to noise or travelling with small children, stand well back, or skip the processions and stick to the food stalls and shrines."},{"heading":"Where to stay and getting around","body":"Processions leave early in the morning; a room within walking distance of the shrines saves looking for transport at dawn. The government expects hotel occupancy in Mueang Phuket of around 80% during the festival, and rooms are tighter than usual."},{"heading":"What to wear and bring","body":"Devotees wear **white** for the whole festival. For visitors it is customary rather than required, but avoid black. Sparks from firecrackers can burn clothes and shoes: wear **long sleeves and closed shoes** and bring **earplugs**."},{"heading":"The devotees' rules","body":"For nine days, fasting devotees wear white, avoid meat and animal products, alcohol and pungent foods such as garlic, keep separate cooking utensils, abstain from sex and avoid lying. People in mourning and women who are pregnant or menstruating do not take part in the rites. These rules are for devotees, not visitors, but respect them in the shrines."}]},"kind":"festival","available_locales":["zh-TW","en"],"event_start_date":"2026-10-10","event_end_date":"2026-10-18","dates_estimated":false,"next_edition":{"start_date":"2027-09-30","end_date":"2027-10-08","estimated":true,"source":"https://www.hko.gov.hk/tc/gts/time/calendar/pdf/files/2027.pdf"},"glance":{"where":"Phuket Old Town, around Jui Tui and Bang Neow shrines","transport":"Walk to the shrines from Old Town lodging","cost":"Free entry; no tickets or booking","limit":"Do not bring meat into jay food stalls or shrine grounds"},"offers":[{"id":"phuket-oldtown-night","title":{"zh-TW":"普吉老城區與神仙半島夜間之旅","en":"Phuket Old Town & Promthep Cape evening"},"note":{"zh-TW":"16:00–21:00小團（最多10人）：卡倫觀景台、神仙半島日落、老城與夜市。吃齋節的遶境在清晨出發，這個傍晚行程碰不到。","en":"16:00–21:00 in a small group (up to 10): Karon Viewpoint, sunset at Promthep Cape, Old Town and a night market. Vegetarian Festival processions set off in the early morning, so this evening tour misses them."},"restrictions":{"zh-TW":"活動前24小時可免費取消；芭東、卡塔、卡倫以外接送每人加收200泰銖（現場付）；遲到或未到不退款。","en":"Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; pick-ups outside Patong, Kata and Karon cost THB 200 per person, paid on the day; no refund for late arrival or no-show."},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/phuket-vegetarian-festival-2026?o=phuket-oldtown-night&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"th-esim","title":{"zh-TW":"泰國 5G eSIM（AIS）","en":"Thailand 5G eSIM (AIS)"},"note":{"zh-TW":"AIS 網路、不限流量；手機需支援 eSIM，出發前在 Klook App 啟用。","en":"Unlimited data on AIS. Your phone must support eSIM; activate it in the Klook app before you fly."},"restrictions":{"zh-TW":"eSIM 連線前取消可全額退款；啟用後依用量全額或部分退款，由 Klook 決定。","en":"Full refund if cancelled before the eSIM connects; after activation, full or partial refund depending on usage, at Klook's discretion."},"merchant":"klook","utility":"esim","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/phuket-vegetarian-festival-2026?o=th-esim&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"}]}