Wat Arun hosts Vijit Chao Phraya shows from 13 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 19:31 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSProgramme and viewing arrangements
- The Tourism Authority of Thailand stages Vijit Chao Phraya from 13 November 2026 at 19 riverside locations.
- Wat Arun features 800-drone displays on selected evenings through 11 December 2026.
- The temple stands on Bangkok's western riverbank, with its central prang completed in 1851.
- Direct access to Wat Arun is restricted during performances, according to TourismThailand.
Wat Arun joins Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 in Bangkok from 13 November to 13 December, with an 800-drone display above the riverside temple on selected evenings. The programme gives travellers in Thailand a current reason to view the monument from across the Chao Phraya River rather than only visit its grounds by day.
Vijit Chao Phraya brings drone displays to Wat Arun
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is staging Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 across 19 riverfront locations between Rama VIII Bridge and Rama III Bridge. The programme combines light and sound, projection mapping, lasers, drone formations, fireworks, creative installations and cultural performances under the theme Light of Imagination, as described in the government programme notice.
At Wat Arun, the presentation is titled Radiance of Dawn - Illuminating Faith Along the Great River. The Tourism Authority schedule lists the 800-drone performance at 7.50pm on 13, 15, 18, 20, 25 and 27 November, followed by 2, 4, 9 and 11 December 2026. The wider festival runs daily from 13 November to 13 December, while individual performances take place on selected dates, according to the TourismThailand programme.
Wat Arun's central prang gives the festival its setting
The temple stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok Yai district. Its central prang is decorated with porcelain and forms the architectural focus for the aerial display, linking the festival's contemporary technology with one of Bangkok's historic religious sites.
The site has been used since the Ayutthaya period, while the distinctive prang was developed during the reigns of Rama II and Rama III. The main prang was completed in 1851 and rises 61.20 metres, according to the UNESCO tentative-list account. Its scale and position beside the river mean that the drone formations can be seen as a separate layer above the temple silhouette, rather than as an installation inside the historic structure.
Viewing the river festival without entering the temple
TourismThailand identifies the temple as a restricted performance area during showtimes for safety and crowd management. Visitors are directed towards the opposite riverbank, nearby viewpoints or river cruises, so the festival experience at this location is principally an exterior view of the illuminated temple and sky.
The arrangement changes the usual relationship with the monument. A daytime visit focuses on the prang, courtyards and religious architecture, while the evening programme places the building in a wider riverfront route that also includes bridges, cultural venues and other landmarks.
Visiting Wat Arun: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Vijit Chao Phraya runs from 13 November to 13 December 2026 along the Chao Phraya River, with Wat Arun among its 19 locations.
- Direct access to Wat Arun is restricted during performances; viewing is available from the opposite riverbank, nearby viewpoints or river cruises.
- The temple is on the western bank of the Chao Phraya in Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, and the event route extends between Rama VIII Bridge and Rama III Bridge.
- 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.
Searching for Wat Arun on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Wat Arun
When does Vijit Chao Phraya take place at Wat Arun?
The festival runs from 13 November to 13 December 2026, with 800-drone performances at Wat Arun on selected evenings through 11 December.
What is Wat Arun?
Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Its central prang was completed in 1851 and is decorated with porcelain.
Where is Wat Arun and how do you get there?
Wat Arun is in Bangkok Yai on the western bank of the Chao Phraya. During the festival performances, TourismThailand recommends viewing the temple from the opposite bank, nearby viewpoints or a river cruise.
