PHUKET, THAILAND – More than 40 Chinese shrines on the island joined forces for Lunar New Year celebrations and the fifth anniversary of the Phuket Shrine Association, as the Old Town was illuminated by a multi-day light and sound festival designed to showcase cultural identity and boost the provincial economy.
Island-wide shrine network marks five years
On 21 February, Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn led the Chinese New Year ceremony at Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town and congratulated the Phuket Shrine Association on five years of continuous work. His wife Kusumal Pongsitthaworn attended alongside representatives of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), Phuket City Municipality, the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation and the Thepkrasattri Foundation, which oversees Bang Neow Shrine. The event brought together a network of shrines, state agencies and local administrative bodies that officials described as a visible sign of unity in the Thai-Chinese community.
Association anchors religious and cultural life
The Phuket Shrine Association had been founded with support from shrine committees and public-sector partners and now linked more than 40 shrines across the island. It played a key role in organising religious ceremonies and supporting core provincial traditions, particularly the annual Vegetarian Festival. Officials described the atmosphere at Bang Neow Shrine as warm and cooperative, reflecting the association’s role as a coordination hub for religious and cultural activities across Phuket.
Passing traditions to younger generations
For the New Year event, representatives of various organisations offered congratulations while students from Phuket Polytechnic College and Bang Neow Municipal School performed cultural shows featuring Thai-Chinese art and traditions. Authorities noted that this third New Year gathering under the association’s leadership created space for exchange between shrine committees and was intended to help pass long-established Thai-Chinese customs to younger generations.
Old Town becomes festival showcase
On 22 February, the Phuket City Municipality officially opened the “Phuket Chinese New Year 2026” festival in the historic Old Town, where at 7 p.m. at the old Chartered Bank intersection Governor Nirat again presided over the opening ceremony. He was accompanied by Mayor Suppachoke Laongphet, city officials, local residents and numerous Thai and foreign tourists. The three-day event from 22 to 24 February stretched along Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Rd and Thalang Rd under the “Discover Phuket” motto, aimed at highlighting the cultural identity of Phuket Town and stimulating the local economy.
Lights, stages and photo spots under “Happiness in Every Flavour”
This year’s festival ran under the title “Phuket Festival 2026: Happiness in Every Flavour”, featuring light and sound installations and cultural performances on seven stages. Five dedicated photo and check-in points were set up around the Old Town to encourage visitors to explore the area. The programme was designed to frame Phuket Town as a destination where heritage, performance and gastronomy intersected during the Lunar New Year period.
40-metre dragon tunnel and parade draw crowds
Highlights included a roughly 40‑metre “Dragon Light Dome Tunnel”, with two illuminated dragons forming a striking arch over Thalang Rd. One dragon stretched from the Thaew Naew intersection to the Chartered Bank junction, while the other extended toward the Tua Pho intersection on Thepkrasattri Rd. The installation was flanked by a large parade of students, teachers, community groups and officials moving between Nawamin Square and the historic crossroads.
Hands-on culture and “City of Gastronomy” food
Beyond the stage shows, the festival offered hands-on cultural activities such as folding gold paper, Chinese paper cutting, writing auspicious New Year greetings and Guzheng performances that provided insight into the island’s Chinese heritage. More than 400 food stalls and 13 food trucks took part under the “City of Gastronomy” campaign, serving a wide variety of local dishes, desserts and drinks. The extensive food offering underlined the role of cuisine as part of Phuket’s cultural identity.
Culture promoted as economic “soft power”
Governor Nirat described the Phuket Chinese New Year Festival as an important driver of tourism and economic activity in the province and referred to the cultural “soft power” inherited from early Chinese settlers on the island.
“The festival not only promotes tourism, but also strengthens confidence and joy in life among residents and visitors and thereby reinforces the reputation of Phuket Town as a vibrant cultural centre during the Lunar New Year.”
said Nirat Pongsitthaworn, governor of Phuket.