In Cambodia, tradition is not just remembered — it’s lived. From ancient rituals to joyful street celebrations, festivals are woven into the everyday lives of the Khmer people. If your Cambodia tour happens to align with one of these events, you’re in for a truly unforgettable experience.
🎨 Festivals in Cambodia are vibrant expressions of faith, history, and community — filled with colors, traditional costumes, sacred ceremonies, music, dance, and big smiles. Here’s your guide to the country’s most iconic events:
🌾 Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Bon Chroat Preah Nongkoal) – May
📍 In front of the National Museum, Phnom Penh
This royal ritual marks the beginning of the rice-planting season. A man and woman representing the King and Queen reenact the ancient process of ploughing and sowing. Afterwards, sacred oxen are led to choose between trays of rice, corn, grass, water, and wine — foretelling the year’s weather and harvest. A blend of spirituality and agriculture, this ceremony is both meaningful and unique.
🕯️ Pchum Ben – All Souls’ Day (Late September)
📿 Nationwide – Dates vary by lunar calendar
One of Cambodia’s most spiritual and ancient Buddhist traditions. For 15 days, people visit pagodas to offer food to monks and pay respects to ancestors and lost loved ones. The belief is that during this time, the spirits of the dead return to receive offerings. It’s a solemn but deeply touching time of remembrance and generosity.
🚣 Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) – November
📍 Tonle Sap River, Phnom Penh + nationwide
Without a doubt, the most thrilling celebration in Cambodia! The Water Festival celebrates the seasonal reversal of the Tonle Sap River’s current — a rare natural wonder. Expect hundreds of colorful racing boats, live music, fireworks, and massive crowds gathering along the riverside. The atmosphere? Electric. It’s a true carnival on water and land alike.
🗓️ Other Important Festivals and Public Holidays:
- 🌸 Khmer New Year (Chol Chnam Thmey) – Mid-April: Homes are decorated, water is gently splashed as a blessing, and the streets come alive with laughter and dance.
- 🎭 Angkor Festival – November or December: A grand celebration of traditional Asian performing arts in the heart of Siem Reap. Often attended by the King himself!
- 🕊️ Independence Day – November 9: Commemorating Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953, celebrated with parades and fireworks.
- 🌅 Victory Over Genocide Day – January 7: A day of national reflection marking the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime.
- 🧧 Chinese New Year – January or February: Though not a national holiday, it’s widely celebrated — especially in cities — with lion dances, firecrackers, and family feasts.
❤️ Travel Tip: Time Your Trip with a Festival!
Planning a Cambodia tour around these festivals gives you the chance to see the country at its most lively and authentic. A good local travel agency will make sure your itinerary includes cultural events so you can experience more than just sights — you’ll live the stories.
👉 Bring your camera, your curiosity, and your warmest smile — because when Cambodia celebrates, you’re always invited.
