Songkran Festival 2026 at Wat Pho Paris in Essonne: the free Thai New Year program

Heading to Breux-Jouy, in Essonne, to celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year, at the Wat Pho Paris temple. A free, festive, immersive day to enjoy this Sunday, April 19, 2026 — let’s go!

The Songkran Festival 2026 is held at the Wat Pho Pariss, the largest Buddhist temple in France, in Breux-Jouy, in Essonne (91), about 30 kilometers from the capital. This Thai New Year celebration, free and open to all, will run on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. A full immersion in Thai traditions, right within Île-de-France.

This 2026 edition takes on a particularly symbolic dimension. On the night of July 11–12, 2025, a major fire ravaged part of the temple, destroying the dormitories of the fifteen resident monks. Of electrical origin, the blaze began around 10:30 p.m. and the roof collapsed, wiping out about 500 square meters of the site. No lives were lost, but the damage is substantial. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will be allocated directly to financing restoration work. Attending Songkran this year also means supporting the revival of a unique place of life and worship in France.

What is the Songkran festival?

Songkran marks the Thai New Year, traditionally celebrated with water-purification rites. Drenching monks, the Buddha, and loved ones with blessed water is a gesture of renewal, joy, and respect for elders and the departed. At Wat Pho Paris, the tradition comes to life in full authenticity, with monks straight from Thailand in their saffron robes presiding over the morning Buddhist ceremonies, open to all—devout followers and curious visitors alike.

What’s the full lineup for Songkran 2026 at Wat Pho Paris?

The day unfolds around two complementary zones of activity, weaving together spirituality, performances, and gastronomy:

09:00-18:00 Zone A: Welcome and temple tour
Doors open for the Songkran festivities and a tour of Wat Pho Paris.
09:00-18:00 Zone B: Tasting day
More than 80 Thai dishes from over 30 street-food stalls, open all day.
10:00-18:00 Zone A: Buddhist ceremony
Meritorious rites for the departed, food offerings to monks, sprinkling of holy water on the Buddha, prayers, temple member registrations, and sand pagoda building.
10:00-18:00 Zone B: Muay Thai and Thai massage
Outdoor Muay Thai classes and traditional Thai massage stalls (nuad Thai) for wellness and vitality.
10:00-18:00 Zone B: Show and concert
Thai traditional music, singers and artistic performances throughout the day.
13:00-14:00 Zones A et B: Songkran parade
Water-splashing of the Buddha and monks, a procession from the temple gate to the performance stage, opening ceremony, Thai dance and Muay Thai display.
All day: Miss Songkran parade in sumptuous, vibrant traditional silk outfits.
18:00: Event closes.

How to reach Wat Pho Paris in Breux-Jouy?

The temple sits at 5224 Rue de Rimoron in Breux-Jouy, in the Essonne. For the occasion, free shuttles will run from the RER C Breuillet-Village station, making the site easily reachable from Paris even without a car. Drivers can take advantage of a large free parking lot on site. For practical information and to register for ceremonies, the official site watphoparis.org is the go-to source before you come.

Our take: Songkran at Wat Pho Paris is one of those outings that never fails to surprise—in the best possible way. The atmosphere blends reverence, warmth, and a lively public festival with rare generosity. This 2026 edition also carries a strong sense of solidarity, coming after last summer’s fire, which gives the day extra meaning. It’s perfect for a family day, a friends’ gathering, or a couple’s outing, and you leave eager to learn more about Thai culture.

Also worth checking out:

Songkran Festival at Wat Thammapatip in Moissy-Cramayel (77), the other major Thai event in Île-de-France, hosted in a pagoda just as striking in Seine-et-Marne.

Sabay Festival at the Grand Pagoda of Vincennes, for an immersion into Cambodian culture just a stone’s throw from Paris.