EDC Thailand Returns to Bangtao

Under the Electric Sky

The world-renowned Electric Daisy Carnival returns to Phuket for its massive year-end edition! Experience three nights of world-class DJs, immersive art, and carnival rides just minutes from our doors.

Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Thailand returns for its third edition from 18–20 December 2026 at Rhythm Park in the Laguna Phuket area, just minutes from ibis Styles Phuket Bangtao. After two sold-out editions that brought over 150,000 fans to the island — more than 50,000 of them travelling in from overseas — EDC has confirmed a five-year commitment to Phuket, and this December edition marks its first time aligning with peak tourist season.

Three days of world-class stages, immersive art, pyrotechnics, and a lineup built around global dance music headliners. Six stages. Cashless festival grounds. Official shuttle services. And a location close enough that you don’t need to choose between festival energy and a comfortable place to land.

Why Stay With Us?

Location, location, location — Bangtao sits right next to the Laguna Phuket precinct where Rhythm Park is based, so you’re a short ride from the festival gates without paying festival-adjacent prices.
Recovery-friendly comfort — Three nights of dancing needs a proper reset in between. Our rooms, pool, and breakfast are built for exactly that.
Easy in, easy out — Skip the scramble for last-minute accommodation once the lineup drops and rooms across the island tighten up, as they did in both previous editions.
More than the festival — Bangtao Beach, our on-site dining at Carmine’s, and Sun Flyer Bar give you somewhere to unwind before and after the festival grounds.

Important: This is a 20+ only event. Valid photo ID is required for entry.

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Event details

When From 18 December 2026 to 20 December 2026

Where Rhythm Park (Laguna Phuket) , Choeng Thale , Phuket , Thailand

GPS 8.00549380424629, 98.31299235581929

Website https://thailand.edc.com/en/

Contact us Book Your Stay with Us

Event date: From 10 October 2026 to 18 October 2026

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

History & Heritage Locally, the festival is often called "Jia Chai" — and its roots run deep in Taoist tradition. The practice centers on honoring gods, ce…

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Phuket Vegetarian Festival

History & Heritage

Locally, the festival is often called “Jia Chai” — and its roots run deep in Taoist tradition. The practice centers on honoring gods, celestial beings, and revered heroes through a period of purification and merit-making. Phuket’s Chinese community has carried this observance forward for generations, timing it each year to the Chinese lunar calendar: nine nights beginning with the first night of the waxing moon in the ninth lunar month. That lunar timing is why the exact dates shift from year to year — in 2026, they fall on October 10–18.

When It Happens

The festival follows the Chinese lunar calendar, so its dates shift every year. In 2026, the nine days of observance run from October 10 to 18, with a pole-raising ceremony on October 9 marking the unofficial start. The closing farewell ceremony on the final night is the biggest of the week, drawing the largest crowds, the loudest firecrackers, and the thickest incense smoke around Saphan Hin.

Shrines Near You

Most of the Vegetarian Festival’s largest processions center on Phuket Old Town, but you don’t have to travel that far to take part. Two participating shrines sit right in our own Cherng Talay–Surin area, just a short ride from ibis Styles Phuket Bangtao:

Tai Houd Tong Shrine — a smaller, more intimate shrine in Cherng Talay–Surin, offering a close-up look at the altars and ritual offerings that anchor the festival.
Sam Ong Hoo Cherngtalay Shrine — one of the area’s more prominent shrines, known for its ornate roofline and active role in local ceremonies throughout the festival week.

Both make an easy, low-key introduction to the festival if you’d rather skip the Old Town crowds — you can witness genuine shrine rituals and offerings without the long drive or the biggest crowds of the closing night.

What You’ll See

This isn’t a quiet cultural stroll — it’s intense, visual, and unmistakably Phuket. Expect:

Street processions with spirit mediums (Ma Song) in elaborate dress
Firewalking and body-piercing rituals performed as acts of purification
Vegetarian street food stalls lining Phuket Town and Ranong Road, offering an easy, delicious way for anyone to join in
Firecrackers and incense throughout the day, building to the loudest night on October 18

A respectful note for guests: photography during public processions is generally welcomed, but devotees preparing for or recovering from rituals should not be photographed without permission — this is genuine spiritual practice, not a performance for visitors.

Good to Know Before You Go

It’s free. Every shrine ceremony, procession, and public ritual is open to everyone at no cost — you only pay for the food you try.
It gets crowded. Old Town accommodation books out weeks in advance for festival dates, which is part of why staying at Bangtao and making the trip in works well — you get a quieter beachside base with easy access to the festival by car or taxi.
October is shoulder-season weather. Mornings tend to be clear, with short evening rain bursts rather than all-day downpours — plan processions and food-stall visits for daytime.

Make It Part of Your Stay

If you’re staying with us during the festival, our team at ibis Styles Phuket Bangtao is happy to help arrange transport into Phuket Town and point you toward the best times to catch each shrine’s procession.

And if you’d rather ease into the spirit of the festival without leaving the property, ask about vegetarian-friendly options at our on-site outlets during the festival week.