Phuket's streets will fill with white-clad devotees, fire walkers and procession routes next month as the annual Vegetarian Festival returns for its nine-day run from 10 to 18 October 2026. The Thailand Tourism Authority expects more than 50,000 visitors across the festival period, with some projections reaching 140,000 participants, many travelling from Malaysia, Singapore and China.
What happens during the festival
The event marks the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar and centres on worship of the Nine Emperor Gods. Devotees wear white, abstain from meat and pungent vegetables such as onions and garlic, and observe strict conduct rules to purify body and spirit.
Processions called Iew Keng move through the streets from 11 to 18 October. Spirit mediums, known as ma song, perform acts of self-mortification — piercing their cheeks with metal spikes, climbing blade ladders and walking over burning coals — to absorb misfortune on behalf of the community. Firecrackers accompany nearly every procession, filling streets with smoke and noise. The ritual fire-walking ceremony, Goay Hoi, requires participants to walk barefoot across glowing charcoal.
Key shrines and viewing points
Three shrines form the festival's core:
• Jui Tui Shrine on Ranong Road in Phuket Old Town hosts the largest procession and the opening pole-raising ceremony on the evening of 9 October. This is the most photographed site.
• Bang Neow Shrine on Phangnga Road draws the second-largest crowds and stages major processions.
• Kathu Shrine, the oldest site where the tradition originated, hosts fire-walking rituals with fewer crowds but deep historical significance.
Practical measures for visitors
Phuket Municipality, provincial police and health authorities have coordinated traffic and safety plans. Major roads in the old town will close during processions. Drivers should park outside procession routes and allow extra travel time. Visitors are advised to stand behind safety barriers, bring earplugs and face masks for protection against firecracker noise and sulphur smoke.
Health officials from Vachira Phuket Hospital and the provincial public health office will inspect food stalls near shrines for hygiene standards, testing for contaminants such as formalin and borax. Look for the "Clean Food Good Taste" sign when buying meals. The municipality has also asked shrines to separate waste at source to manage the surge in rubbish, especially spent firecrackers.
Hotels and flights fill quickly in October. Booking three months ahead is recommended. Grab and tuk-tuk services operate with road closures in mind, though routes change during processions.
Observing with respect
Dress modestly when entering shrines or watching rituals. Do not block processions or offering tables. Ask permission before taking close photographs of participants. Women should not approach spirit mediums directly during trance states. Prepare for crowds, incense smoke and loud firecrackers throughout old Phuket Town.
