PATTAYA, THAILAND – The sky above Pattaya Beach turned into a vivid spectacle as the international kite festival “PATTAYA INTERNATIONAL KITE ON THE BEACH 2026” took place in front of the Central Pattaya shopping mall.
Festival aimed at boosting beach tourism
In its fifth edition under the motto “Sky Paradise of Happiness”, the event was designed to strengthen Pattaya’s role as a top beach destination during the high season and to attract both Thai and international holidaymakers. Numerous partners from the public and private sectors worked with Central Pattaya to stage a large-scale aerial display above the city’s main beachfront.
Kites stretched over one kilometre of coastline
From 25 February to 1 March 2026, kites lined more than one kilometre of coastline in front of Central Pattaya, dominating the summer sky over the city. The festival zone extended along the waterfront promenade, turning the beachfront area into a continuous viewing corridor for residents and tourists.
International kite parade with brand characters
A key attraction was a major formation of character kites from well-known brands, presented in this size and variety for the first time in Thailand and led by MR. SUN, the mascot of Central Pattaya. The yellow character kite MR. SUN took off as a giant figure of around 12 metres in height, flanked by the playful kite “Muek Groob”, a flamingo kite, the 3‑metre‑high mascot kite of the PEA, and more than 150 unique kites from 12 countries.
Workshops and beachside activities for visitors
In addition to the flight shows, organisers planned a creative workshop where children and adults could paint their own MR. SUN character kite. Along the beachfront promenade, guests were offered a “Shop, Taste, Chill” experience with more than 30 street food stalls in a relaxed beach atmosphere.
Linked shopping promotions at the mall
Visitors to the Central Pattaya mall were able to benefit from special shopping promotions tied to the kite festival period. For the highest total spending during the campaign, starting from a minimum of 500,000 Baht, a luxurious trip to Hong Kong was offered as a reward. International customers also received special benefits, including a complimentary Premium Tea Ritual tasting for purchases from 30,000 Baht upwards, subject to conditions set by the company.
“The festival was intended to turn the beachfront sky into a ‘Sky Paradise of Happiness’ while encouraging visitors to explore both the seaside activities and the shopping promotions on offer.”
said Central Pattaya, event organiser.