Grand Palace changes access on 23 October 2026
Published on 10/18/2026 at 04:10 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Grand Palace in Bangkok will change visitor access on 23 October 2026 because of the Piyamarat merit-making ceremony. The complex, known locally in English-language transliteration as the Grand Palace compound, will not operate as a normal sightseeing venue that day.
Grand Palace access changes for 23 October
The Bureau of the Royal Household has announced that ticket sales for the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram will be suspended throughout Friday, 23 October 2026. The change is linked to the Piyamarat merit-making ceremony, a named royal religious observance taking place at the complex.
Visitors will still have limited access to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and to the Pantheon. The designated entrance and exit for this arrangement is Sawasdisopa Gate, rather than the usual visitor route. The notice also provides access for people paying respects at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall and the Phiman Rattaya Hall. Bangkok Biznews reports the 23 October access plan.
The practical effect is a partial change rather than a normal palace visit. The main ticket arrangement is unavailable, while selected religious and ceremonial areas remain accessible under the special notice. Visitors planning a sightseeing day should therefore distinguish between access to the wider palace compound and entry to the individual areas named by the Bureau.
Royal ceremonies affect separate parts of the complex
The Grand Palace schedule identifies the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the main palace complex and the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha as separate entries. This matters on a ceremony day because access can differ between the buildings, rather than applying uniformly to every part of the site. The official schedule lists the separate areas.
The 23 October arrangement connects a public visit with the religious function of the site. The named areas that remain accessible are not a substitute for the full ticketed experience, but they show how the complex can continue to receive visitors while a royal ceremony changes ordinary access.
A further notice covers Saturday, 24 October 2026, and Sunday, 25 October 2026. On those dates, another royal merit-making ceremony marks the first anniversary of the death of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. Ticket sales are restricted to specific periods, while the notice also sets out public access for paying respects at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall and the Phiman Rattaya Hall. The 24 and 25 October notice requires respectful mourning clothing for those attending the memorial rites.
Visiting Grand Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- On 23 October 2026, ticket sales are suspended for the day because of the Piyamarat merit-making ceremony. Limited access remains available to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram and the Pantheon.
- The special route uses Sawasdisopa Gate for entry and exit. The normal full-complex sightseeing arrangement therefore does not apply on 23 October 2026.
- On 24 and 25 October 2026, access is also restricted during the memorial ceremony for Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. The available ticket periods and areas differ by day.
- The complex is on Na Phra Lan Road in Bangkok's Rattanakosin area. The official schedule identifies the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and its chapel as separate areas.
- Visitors attending the memorial rites should wear respectful mourning clothing. The notice specifies skirts or traditional wrap garments for women and prohibits jeans for men entering the named ceremonial areas.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Grand Palace
When does the Piyamarat ceremony affect the Grand Palace?
The special access arrangement applies on 23 October 2026. Ticket sales are suspended, while selected areas remain accessible.
What remains open at the Grand Palace on 23 October?
Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram and the Pantheon remain available under the special arrangement, with Sawasdisopa Gate used for entry and exit.
Where is the Grand Palace and how do you get there?
The complex is on Na Phra Lan Road in Bangkok's Rattanakosin area. The special notice names Sawasdisopa Gate as the route for the limited access on 23 October 2026.
