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A day off in Thailand on December 16, 2026, was announced by a Cabinet resolution in connection with the cremation ceremony of Queen Mother Sirikit. This is a special government holiday, not an automatic release from work for all private-sector employees. The schedules of banks, companies, and individual services should be checked separately: the government’s decision alone does not confirm that every organization will be closed.
Current as of November 2026. The date of the government holiday is confirmed by the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand and the public broadcaster. The official program of funeral ceremonies covers several days in December and includes events in Bangkok’s historic center. If you have plans to visit a government office, carry out a bank transaction, or travel to the ceremony venues, check the announcements of the relevant organization in advance. Schedules may change, so rely on the latest official notices rather than a general calendar.
What is known about Thailand’s Cabinet decision
Thailand’s Cabinet has set Wednesday, December 16, 2026, a special government holiday in connection with the cremation ceremony of Queen Mother Sirikit. The decision was published on the website of the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand and confirmed by Thailand’s public broadcaster (Thai PBS).
The official announcement uses the Thai term วันหยุดราชการกรณีพิเศษ — a special day off for the public sector. It does not automatically mean that the same schedule applies to every private employer. You can check the date against other holidays and commemorative days in Thailand’s calendar of events and holidays.
Day off in Thailand: who the decision affects
Confirmed: the status of a special government holiday. But this announcement does not mean that all banks, private companies, hospitals, transport services, or tourist sites will be closed. For each organization, its own announcement about working hours on that day is what matters.
This is especially true for those planning a visit to an immigration office, district administration office, or consulate. Before going, it is worth checking the reception hours of the specific branch you need. The same approach applies to post offices, medical facilities, and transport: check the schedule of the specific operator rather than assuming all services work the same way.
For banks, guidance comes from announcements by the Bank of Thailand and your own bank. General information about holidays and days off in Thailand is useful to keep on hand, but it does not replace an organization’s announcement of its service schedule.
Ceremonies in Bangkok from December 15 to 19
According to the announcement from the Public Relations Department of the Thai government, the ceremonies are scheduled for December 15–19, 2026. The special government holiday falls within this period. The sequence of events is set out in the official ceremony program.
Among the named venues are the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall and Sanam Luang. The program includes preparatory rites, the transfer of the royal funeral urn to the crematorium, and the cremation ceremony. It also provides for the collection of royal relics and their subsequent transfer to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on the grounds of the Grand Palace.
According to the agency, live television broadcasts of the ceremonies are planned throughout the stated period. Those planning to visit Bangkok’s historic center may find the material about the Grand Palace. However, the program itself does not set a specific access schedule for visitors and does not confirm road closures: such information should be sought in separate official notices.
What to do
If you have appointments or errands in Thailand on December 16, check the information before you travel:
- Government services: check the announcement from the relevant agency and confirm reception hours at the specific office.
- Banking transactions: check the calendar of days off on the Bank of Thailand’s website, and then your bank’s notice.
- Trip to central Bangkok: before visiting Sanam Luang or the Grand Palace, check current announcements about the ceremonies and visitor access.
The government holiday is confirmed, but the operating hours of individual organizations must be checked independently. As of November 2026, schedules may still change: compare the holiday calendar with the official announcements of the relevant service.