Events & Festivals in Cambodia

This charitable run winds through Angkor Archaeological Park. Runners pass Angkor Wat and Bayon. Categories include half marathon, 10km, and 3km fun run. The crowd is global and energetic. It fits athletic travelers. Families welcome. Start the year with activity. The scenery is hard to beat.

Cambodia's ethnic Chinese community drives these celebrations. Lion dances dominate. Families gather for special meals. Phnom Penh's Chinatown near Central Market comes alive. Performances fill the streets. Market activity surges. Temples overflow with worshippers seeking prosperity. The event suits diaspora culture enthusiasts. Street scenes are lively.

This Bunong ceremony takes place in Mondulkiri province. It honors the buffalo, central to their culture. Rituals include traditional music, wine offerings, and prayers for livestock and community health. Visitors see authentic highland traditions. Learn about Bunong spiritual beliefs. The event suits ethnography enthusiasts. Go beyond the temples.

This Buddhist holy day is a spontaneous monk gathering to hear the Buddha preach. Observances center at pagodas. Evening brings candlelit processions. Devotees circle the vihara three times. They carry candles, incense, and lotus flowers. The mood is serene. Witness local Buddhist practice.

This government event rotates between Sihanoukville, Kep, and Koh Kong. It promotes coastal tourism. Expect concerts, boat races, food fairs, and fireworks. Beaches swarm with local families. The atmosphere is carnival-like. It suits beachgoers. Seek a festive seaside weekend.

This social enterprise delivers year-round performances. Theater, music, dance, and modern circus arts blend together. Stories pull from Cambodian folklore and contemporary issues. Talent trains at the affiliated NGO school in Battambang. The show suits all audiences. Expect high-quality, innovative entertainment in Siem Reap.

This Phnom Penh fun-run supports women's empowerment causes. The route typically follows the riverfront. Participants include expatriates, local professionals, and NGO staff. The mood is supportive and celebratory. Casual runners welcome. Walkers too. Join a community-focused event.

This ancient Brahmanic ritual opens the rainy season and planting. Sacred oxen choose from food trays. Their selections predict the harvest. The King or his representative presides. The ceremony suits royal tradition enthusiasts. Explore agrarian roots. The main event is public.

This is the most important Buddhist holiday. It celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death. Temples glow with lanterns and flags. Devotees hear sermons, make offerings, and do good deeds. Evening brings a candlelit procession up Phnom Penh's Wat Phnom. The atmosphere is reverent and communal.

This rotating festival moves along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. A different province hosts each year. It celebrates river life. Boat races, floating village tours, cultural performances, and trade fairs fill the schedule. Local handicrafts and environmental awareness take focus. It suits travelers seeking provincial life along Cambodia's essential waterways.

Hosted by the Cambodian Ministry of Culture, this festival stages classical dance, folk dance, and traditional music performances against the backdrop of Bayon Temple's giant faces in Angkor Thom. It wants to preserve and promote Khmer performing arts. The setting transforms as dusk falls. It suits culture enthusiasts and photographers.

Organized by the local surf community, this contest takes advantage of the southwest monsoon waves. It's held at Cambodia's main surf beach and includes various board categories. The vibe is laid back and supportive, with spectators cheering from the shore. It suits surfers and those visiting the coast during the green season.

This marks the beginning of a three month period where monks remain in their home pagodas for intensive study and meditation. It is not a public festival but a significant religious observance. Communities offer candles, incense, and supplies to the monasteries. The mood is solemn and dedicated. It suits those interested in monastic rhythms.

A celebration of Cambodia's beloved baguette sandwich, held in Siem Reap. Dozens of vendors show creative takes on banh mi, from classic pork to vegetarian versions. There are live cooking demonstrations and competitions. The atmosphere is casual and aromatic. It suits food lovers wanting to sample a local staple in many forms.

A 15 day period culminating in a public holiday, where Cambodians make offerings to ease the suffering of ancestors. The final three days see intense activity at pagodas from dawn, with people offering rice balls to monks. The atmosphere is respectful and familial. It is the most important religious event after Khmer New Year.

Screens a curated selection of Cambodian and international films, documentaries, and shorts. Venues include cultural centers and modern cinemas across the city. The festival supports local filmmakers and offers Q&A sessions. It suits cinephiles and those interested in Southeast Asian storytelling and contemporary issues.

This marks the reversal of flow between the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. The highlight is longboat races with hundreds of rowers, watched by millions along Phnom Penh's riverfront. Evenings feature illuminated boat flotillas, concerts, and fireworks. It is Cambodia's largest and most exuberant festival, drawing crowds from every province.

Held in a central park, this event brings together restaurants, street food vendors, and cooking schools from across Siem Reap. Attendees can sample a vast range of Khmer and international dishes. Cooking demos and live music add to the lively park atmosphere. It suits visitors wanting to explore Cambodian cuisine in one location.

Southeast Asia's longest running international photography event. Exhibitions by global and regional photographers are displayed in unconventional outdoor venues around Siem Reap. Free workshops for emerging Asian photographers are a core component. The atmosphere is creative and accessible. It suits photographers and art lovers.

Commemorates Cambodia's independence from France. The main event is a large military parade presided over by the King at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh. The city is decorated with national flags. The mood is patriotic and formal. It suits those interested in modern Cambodian history and state ceremony.

A local festival centered around the remote Koh Ker temple complex in Preah Vihear province. It features traditional games, oxcart rides, and performances near the ancient pyramids. The event draws Cambodian families for picnics and merit making at nearby pagodas. It suits adventurous travelers already planning to visit this archaeological site.

These aren't traditional Cambodian holidays. Urban areas celebrate them anyway. Young locals and expats drive the energy. Major hotels throw gala dinners. Rooftop bars join in. Pub Street in Siem Reap packs tight. The Phnom Penh riverfront fills fast. The vibe feels cosmopolitan. It feels festive.

Battambang throws a multi-day festival. It celebrates the province's status as an arts center. Phare Ponleu Selpak performs, the circus school. Expect Sbek Thom shadow puppet shows. Contemporary dance fills the schedule. Visual arts exhibitions run alongside. The mood is creative. The community shows up. This suits travelers exploring this artistic province.