- A Full Moon Party date change happens when the full moon falls on a major Buddhist holiday, because alcohol sales are restricted on those days.
- The holidays that matter most are Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent, all set by the Thai lunar calendar.
- When the party moves, it is usually only a day or two away from the full moon, so the moon over Haad Rin still looks full.
- The New Year party on 31 December never follows the moon: in 2026 it is on Thursday 31 December, one week after the regular party on Thursday 24 December.
- Always book your transfer for the date on the official schedule, not the date in a moon app.
A Full Moon Party date change happens when the full moon lands on a major Buddhist holiday: alcohol sales are restricted on those days, so the party moves a night or two, usually to the day before or after. The moon above Haad Rin still looks full, the bars still open at sunset, and the only people who get caught out are the ones who planned from a moon app instead of the schedule.
Every season some travellers turn up on the beach on the wrong night. The sand is quiet, a few bars are playing low music, and the moon is perfectly round. It happens more often than you would think, and it is easy to avoid.
Why is the Full Moon Party not always on the full moon?
The party follows the moon, but it also has to follow Thai law and Buddhist custom. On the main Buddhist holy days, alcohol sales in Thailand are restricted, and a beach party built around bars and buckets cannot run that night. So in those months the date shifts.
The Full Moon Party is held once a month on Haad Rin Nok, also called Sunrise Beach, at the south-east tip of Koh Phangan. Most months it falls on the full moon night or very close to it. A few times a year the full moon and a Buddhist holiday overlap, and that is when the date moves.
There is a second, quieter reason. The Buddhist holidays are fixed by the Thai lunar calendar, which does not always match the exact astronomical moment of the full moon. The full moon can peak in the middle of the day, so "the full moon night" can honestly be the night before or the night after. The party date is decided with all of this in mind, and the result is the published schedule.
None of this is a problem once you know about it. It only becomes a problem when you book a hotel, a flight and a transfer around a date you worked out yourself.
Which Buddhist holidays cause a Full Moon Party date change?
Four holidays matter most: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent the day after Asalha Bucha. All of them fall on or around a full moon, which is exactly why they clash with the party.
Thai people go to the temple on these days, make merit, and many join candle processions in the evening. It is a calm, respectful day across the country, and you will notice it on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan too: temples are busy, some shops close early, and bars that are open serve soft drinks or stay quiet.
| Holiday | Usual time of year | What it remembers | Effect on the party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makha Bucha | February or March | The gathering of monks to hear the Buddha's teaching | The party often moves a day |
| Visakha Bucha | May or June | The birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha | The party often moves a day |
| Asalha Bucha | July | The Buddha's first sermon | The party may move, sometimes by two days |
| Start of Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) | The day after Asalha Bucha | The start of the three-month monks' retreat | Adds a second quiet day next to Asalha Bucha |
The exact western dates change every year, because the lunar calendar slides against our calendar. That is why you cannot simply say "the February party is always moved". Some years it is, some years it is not.
The end of Buddhist Lent in October is another holiday worth keeping in mind. Elections can also bring short alcohol restrictions in Thailand, and rules have been adjusted in recent years, so treat the schedule as the final word and check before you go.
What does the alcohol sale ban mean on the island?
It means the party cannot happen on that night, but daily life goes on. The restriction is on selling alcohol, so the bars on Haad Rin simply do not run the party until the holiday is over.
On a holiday night Haad Rin feels like a different place. The beach is dark, the speakers are off or very low, and the bucket stalls are packed away. If you arrive on that night by mistake, you will find a few restaurants and a lot of confused people in neon paint.
A few practical things to know about holiday days in Thailand:
- Shops and supermarkets usually stop selling alcohol for the day, so do not plan a pre-party with bought drinks.
- Hotels may also stop serving at the bar, even for guests. Ask at reception.
- Temples are busy and beautiful in the evening. Dress modestly if you visit: shoulders and knees covered.
- The restriction ends when the holiday ends, so the party the next night is a full, normal party.
Our honest view: a holiday evening on Koh Samui is a nice thing to see. Go to a temple, watch the candle walk, eat well, and save your energy for the party the next night.
How far does the party move, and in which direction?
Usually one day, sometimes two, and it can go either way: the night before or the night after the full moon. The direction depends on which day the holiday falls and how the next days fit around it.
When Asalha Bucha and the start of Lent sit on two days in a row, the party may have to move further than usual. In other months the shift is just one night. One night away from the full moon, the moon still looks completely round to the eye, so the party looks and feels the same. From the beach you will not see any difference.
The one party that never follows the moon is the New Year party on 31 December. It is fixed by the calendar, not the sky. In 2026 the schedule has two parties in one week: the regular one on 24 December (Thursday) and the New Year party on 31 December (Thursday). We wrote more about that night in our article on the New Year Full Moon Party on 31 December.
Because the date can move in either direction, do not plan to arrive on Koh Samui on the exact full moon day. Give yourself one spare day on each side if your trip allows it.
How do you check the real Full Moon Party date?
Use the published schedule, not a moon calendar. Our Full Moon Party dates 2026-2027 schedule already takes the Buddhist holidays into account, with the weekday next to every date.
The upcoming dates on the schedule are:
- 2026-10-27 (Tuesday)
- 2026-11-24 (Tuesday)
- 2026-12-24 (Thursday)
- 2026-12-31 (Thursday, New Year party)
- 2027-01-22 (Friday)
- 2027-02-22 (Monday)
- 2027-03-22 (Monday)
- 2027-04-21 (Wednesday)
- 2027-05-21 (Friday)
- 2027-06-19 (Saturday)
- 2027-07-20 (Tuesday)
There are 13 parties in 2027: 12 regular ones plus the New Year party on 31 December. The full year, with the autumn dates and the reasoning, is in our article on Full Moon Party dates 2027 and how to plan around them.
A simple routine that works:
- Pick your party from the schedule before you book flights or hotels.
- Check the schedule again about a month before, and once more in the week of the party.
- If your party falls in February, March, May, June or July, take an extra look: these are the months with the big Buddhist holidays.
- Book the transfer for the schedule date, and choose a pickup time from the booking form.
One more tip: weekdays matter less than people think. The party is just as big on a Monday as on a Saturday, because almost everyone on the beach is on holiday anyway.
What if the date moves and your trip is already booked?
Usually nothing is lost, because the shift is a day or two and the island has plenty to fill the extra time. The main thing is to adjust your transfer and your hotel nights early.
If you are staying on Koh Samui, a moved date is the easy case. You just go on the other night. The transfer is free to book online and paid in cash at the pier on the day, so there is no prepayment and nothing to refund if your plans change. Just let us know through the contact form so the minivan does not wait for you at your hotel.
If you booked a room on Koh Phangan near Haad Rin, it is harder. Rooms around the party are often booked out and minimum stays are common, so a date change can leave you one night short. This is one reason many people sleep on Koh Samui and come over by night speedboat.
On the free night, there is often something else on Koh Phangan around the full moon week, like the Half Moon Festival in the jungle near Ban Tai. Our page on other parties on Koh Phangan explains how they work.
Your plan for the party night from Koh Samui
Once you have the real date, the rest is simple. Speedboats leave from Bangrak pier (Big Buddha area), the ride to Haad Rin pier takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on the sea, and the party is a few minutes walk from the pier.
Bars and music start in the afternoon, and the main party starts when it gets dark, about 7 pm, and goes on until sunrise. Entrance is 200 THB, paid in cash at the beach. There are no official online entry tickets, so ignore anyone selling one.
| Transfer ticket | Regular party | New Year party |
|---|---|---|
| One way | ฿890 | ฿1190 |
| Round trip | ฿1290 | ฿1490 |
Prices are per person and include pickup from your hotel or villa anywhere on Koh Samui, the speedboat and life jackets. Return boats leave Haad Rin pier every hour from 0:00 to 6:00: you come to the pier when you are ready, show the ticket badge you got at Bangrak pier and take the next boat.
The Full Moon Party transfer from Koh Samui picks you up at your hotel and brings you back after the party, and you book it for free and pay cash at the pier.
Staying on Koh Samui? Hotel pickup, speedboat from Bangrak pier to Haad Rin and boats back every hour from 0:00 to 6:00. One way ฿890, round trip ฿1290, free booking, pay cash at the pier.
Book your transferLast practical point: on New Year's Eve the last pickup is earlier, 8:00 to 8:30 PM on 31 December, so plan dinner around it.
Questions and answers
Is the Full Moon Party always on a weekend?
No. The party follows the moon, so it falls on any day of the week. For example, the schedule lists 22 February 2027 as a Monday and 19 June 2027 as a Saturday. It is just as busy on a weekday because most people on the beach are travelling.
Can I find out the date a year ahead?
Yes, the schedule is published well in advance and already accounts for the Buddhist holidays. Still check it again a month before and in the week of the party, because dates can be adjusted.
Is there any party on Haad Rin on a Buddhist holiday?
Not the Full Moon Party. Alcohol sales are restricted, so the beach is quiet and most bars stay closed or very low-key. The party takes place on the night given in the schedule instead.
Does the date change affect the transfer price?
No. A regular party transfer is ฿890 one way or ฿1290 round trip whatever the date. Only the New Year party on 31 December has its own prices: ฿1190 one way and ฿1490 round trip.
Do I need to buy an entry ticket for the new date?
No. There are no official online entry tickets. You pay the 200 THB entrance in cash at the beach on the night, whichever date the party falls on.
How many Full Moon Parties are there in a year?
In 2026 and 2027 there are 13 parties each year: 12 regular parties and the New Year party on 31 December.
What happens if I booked a transfer for the wrong date?
Nothing is charged, because you pay in cash at the pier on the day and there is no prepayment. Send a note through the contact form so the driver does not wait for you, and book again for the correct date.
Transfer facts checked on 6 November 2026. Prices and party dates can change: the booking form always shows the current ones.
