KOH LARN, THAILAND – Thousands of visitors crowded Samae Beach on 21 March during the Pattaya Music Festival 2026, turning the island into a pulsating open-air concert strip.
Thousands pack Samae Beach
The third festival weekend brought a tightly packed crowd of Thai and international visitors directly to the water’s edge on day two. From early evening until late into the night, people danced, sang along and took photos as the masses spread across the sand and into the beach areas.
The beach setting was transformed into a large stage with a line-up of popular Thai acts from different genres. Performances by BLVCKHEART THAOWAN, Z9, SEXSKI, 2K, 2TFLOW, 1ST, Mirrr, BOWKYLION and headliner The TOYS kept the atmosphere at a constant high.
City of Pattaya stresses tight organisation
The event was organised by the City of Pattaya, which opened the evening under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Phinitchakan. At his side, assistant secretary to the mayor Korn Phatthanasin, city council member Suriwat Roemkitcha and Pol. Lt. Col. Chayaphol Yurort from Pattaya City Police welcomed guests.
According to the organisers, the festival was intended to underline Pattaya’s ambition to attract visitors as an event destination beyond traditional beach tourism. The series ran under the slogan “Pattaya Waves Got Rhythm”, which the city used prominently in its promotion.
T-POP, rock and hip-hop draw the crowds
The mix of T-POP, rock and hip-hop proved to be a powerful draw for festival-goers on Koh Larn. The diverse programme aimed to appeal to a broad audience and keep visitors on the beach for the entire evening.
Throughout the night, the tightly packed crowd remained in front of the stage and along the shoreline. The organisers highlighted that fans were willing to travel to the island specifically for the performances.
Koh Larn sees clear tourism boost
Organisers pointed out that the strong demand directly stimulated tourism on Koh Larn, generating additional revenue for food outlets, transport and accommodation. At the same time, Samae Beach was being positioned as a newly promoted destination to secure long-term and more sustainable income for the island community.
The festival days also increased visibility for local businesses, which benefited from the influx of visitors before and after the shows. The city linked the concept of free concerts with the goal of strengthening the wider island economy.
Festival continues as free event
According to the city, the Pattaya Music Festival 2026 was set to continue every Friday and Saturday in March, with all shows remaining free of charge. Current artist line-ups and last-minute updates were published via the official Facebook pages PRPATTAYA and Pattaya Music Festival.
The finale was announced for the fourth weekend, on 27 and 28 March, at Lan Pho Public Park in Naklua. With this, the multi-week series was scheduled to conclude on the mainland after drawing large crowds to Pattaya, Jomtien and Koh Larn.