🗓️ Monday, August 17, 2026
📍 Bangkok, Thailand

🚤 Thailand’s Royal Barges Hit the Chao Phraya for Rehearsals

Bangkok — August 17, 2026

The Chao Phraya River is getting ready for a spectacular royal event!

Rehearsals for Thailand’s 2026 Royal Barge Procession began on Monday, August 17, as dozens of beautifully decorated ceremonial boats took to the river ahead of the main event on November 6.

And this isn’t just a small practice run. The procession will involve 52 ceremonial vessels and more than 2,200 Royal Thai Navy personnel.

👑 What’s happening on November 6?

The Royal Barge Procession will be part of the annual royal Kathin ceremony, during which the King and the royal party travel by river to Wat Arun Ratchawararam to present robes to Buddhist monks.

The 2026 occasion also marks Her Majesty the Queen’s fourth-cycle birthday anniversary, which falls on June 3.

🛶 Twelve rehearsals before the big day

The Royal Thai Navy has planned 12 practice sessions in total.

The first 10 rehearsals are scheduled for:

🎭 Full-dress rehearsals

Two full-dress rehearsals will take place before the main ceremony:

The real Royal Barge Procession will take place on November 6.

👀 Want to watch?

Good news for locals and tourists: the public can watch the rehearsals from both sides of the Chao Phraya River.

The published route stretches from around Rama VIII Bridge to Wat Arun, with rehearsals expected to start at around 2:30pm.

📍 Suggested viewing spots

Some recommended places to watch include:

🌊 A spectacular sight on the river

With 52 ceremonial boats, thousands of personnel and months of rehearsals, the Royal Barge Procession is expected to be an impressive sight on the Chao Phraya.

So if you're in Bangkok during the rehearsal period, keep an eye on the river — you might get a preview of one of Thailand’s most spectacular royal traditions before the big show on November 6!