Pattaya, Thailand – Organisers cancelled the evening events of the city’s Halloween festival and postponed them to 2026 out of respect for the national mourning following the death of Queen Mother Sirikit.
Large evening programme called off
Organisers announced that all evening activities planned for 31 October — including the main parade, the large street party on Beach Road and the haunted-house attraction — would not take place. They said the festive character of those events would be inappropriate during a nationwide period of mourning. Thailand entered an official mourning phase after Her Majesty the Queen Mother died on 24 October at the age of 93.
One educational event will proceed
Despite the wider cancellations, an afternoon seminar featuring leading Thai horror-film directors was allowed to go ahead at the Cape Dara Resort. The seminar was described by organisers as educational in nature and suitable to be held within the current sombre context. For film fans, it remained the only official Halloween activity in Pattaya this year.
Private celebrations urged to show restraint
Authorities made clear that private Halloween gatherings were not explicitly banned but urged hosts to observe the mood of the country and behave respectfully. A government representative said, ‘We ask everyone to respect the solemn mood at this time. Celebrations should be held in an appropriate manner.’ Many hotels and restaurants in Pattaya indicated they would scale back public festivities accordingly.
Impact on visitors and the city
The decision meant that the usual night-time crowds on Beach Road on 31 October would be absent, removing a major draw for both tourists and residents. Organisers assured the public that the full festival would return in its usual form in 2026, and encouraged those planning smaller private events to keep them low-key.
Broader context
Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most visited coastal cities, and its Halloween celebrations have in past years attracted thousands of costumed participants along the shoreline. The postponement reflected a wider pattern in Thailand of curtailing or altering public entertainment during official periods of national mourning.