Chinese New Year on Samui: days & times

Samui's old Hainanese community celebrates Chinese New Year with lion dances, firecrackers and shrine ceremonies - centred on Maenam's Chinese temple, Nathon and Hua Thanon. Next: 6 February 2027. Thanks to its Hainanese settler roots, Chinese New Year is a genuine community festival on Samui, not just a hotel event. The main public celebrations centre on the Chinese temple in Maenam, with lion and dragon dances, firecrackers, street stalls and beachside events; Nathon's Hainan Shrine hosts smaller, traditional ceremonies (some sources note Phuket-style piercing rituals at the Nathon shrine - be prepared), and Hua Thanon's Guan Yu shrine also celebrates. The date follows the Chinese lunar calendar, falling in late January or February: 17 February 2026 (Year of the Horse, already passed at research date) and 6 February 2027. It is not a Thai public holiday, but the week brings a visitor surge from China, Hong Kong and Singapore on top of high season. When: Chinese lunar calendar, late Jan-Feb. 2026: 17 February (passed). 2027: 6 February. • Maenam is the family-friendly option; Nathon ceremonies can include intense rituals (piercing) - not for the squeamish • Book accommodation early: CNY week overlaps peak season demand • Celebrations run over several days; the temple parade typically starts mid-afternoon