Water Festival 2026 Returns to the Siem Reap River
Six days of celebrations, boat races on the Siem Reap River and a town full of lights. Bon Om Touk is back in Siem Reap from 20 to 25 November 2026, and once again, this is the place to be.
Last year, we wrote about how Cambodia’s Water Festival found new meaning in quieter times. This year, we’re happy to share some good news: the boats are back on the Siem Reap River, and the celebrations here are bigger this year!
From 20 to 25 November, Siem Reap celebrates Bon Om Touk with six days of festivities in the Royal Gardens and along the river. The highlight is the boat races on 23 and 24 November: long, colourful boats with dozens of paddlers racing through the heart of town while the crowds cheer from the riverbanks.
A festival that belongs to the river
Bon Om Touk marks the end of the rainy season and one of nature’s great wonders: a river that changes direction every year!
In the rainy season, the Mekong River fills up with water. It gets so full that it pushes water backwards up the Tonlé Sap River and into the Tonlé Sap Lake. The lake grows and grows until it is about five times bigger than in the dry season.
When the rain stops, the Mekong gets lower. Now the water in the lake flows back out, and the Tonlé Sap River changes direction again.
This happens in very few places in the world. The water brings fish for the fishermen and good soil for the rice fields. For farmers, it marks the end of the rice season, and for fishing families, the start of a new one. Bon Om Touk is the time when Cambodians say thank you to the river.
Today, it is one of the happiest times of the year in Cambodia, with boat races, music, food, lights and families gathered by the water. At night, people give offerings to the moon and eat ak ambok, a sweet snack made from new rice, coconut and banana.
Lotus and incense offerings are part of Bon Om Touk, when Cambodians give thanks to the moon and the river.
So what’s actually happening in Siem Reap?
Our already beautiful riverside is getting a clean-up and a makeover, ready for the festival and for the high season that’s just starting. Trees that fell during the rainy months are being replaced, benches are being repainted and the grass is being cut. The old string lights and decorations are being swapped for new ones, and the provincial administration is setting up spaces for local food vendors along the river and in the park.
Here’s what’s on the programme:
20–25 November: Festival days in the Royal Gardens and along the Siem Reap River
23–24 November: Boat races, with traditional long boats and dragon boats
23–25 November: National public holidays
You can also look forward to leisure boat rides, hand-drum performances, exhibition stands and Kun Khmer preformances (traditional Khmer boxing).
Did you know? Two years ago, our lovely Babel staff member Smith raced with the Wat Bo Village team! Check out our video: Here
Traditional longtail boats, during the festival a few years back.
Why Siem Reap is the place to be this year
The big celebrations in Phnom Penh aren’t happening again this year, and Siem Reap is one of only a few places in Cambodia with boat races over the public holidays (Kampot is another). That means we’re expecting lots of Cambodian families from Phnom Penh and all over the country to come and join in, so the riverside will be buzzing!
A rainbow of teams! Before the races begin, the boats line up in front of the main stage to be blessed and welcomed.
Our tips for race days
Races always start in the morning, with the finals later in the day. Go early to find a good spot by the river, and bring a sarong or picnic blanket to sit on.
We recommend walking. If you’re staying at Babel Guesthouse, you’re only a couple of minutes’ walk from the main area. If you’re staying at Babel Boutique, you can take a tuk-tuk down our street to skip the first part of the walk.
The Angkor temples will be busier over the holiday, but during the boat races you might actually find them quieter than usual.
When the last race is over, the party moves to the riverside. Try the festival snacks, support the local vendors and stay for the lights and the small banana-leaf boat lanterns.
After nearly 20 years in Siem Reap, this is still one of our favourite times of the year.
Once again, Siem Reap is the place to be!