Thingyan Water Festival: Walking Thingyan to be prioritized nationwide this year

Authorities have announced that this year’s Thingyan Water Festival will primarily feature “Walking Thingyan” celebrations across the country, with restrictions placed on traditional water-splashing vehicles and decorative floats.

Instead of large mobile water-splashing events, the festival will emphasize cultural and charitable activities, including traditional Yein dance performances, charity food donations, offering personal care to elders, donating medicines, and releasing fish. These measures aim to preserve the cultural essence and promote community participation.

Walking Thingyan events are planned in major cities including Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and Mandalay. To ensure broad participation, Walking Thingyan stages will be set up not only in major urban centers but also in districts, townships, wards, and villages.

In addition, entertainment programs will feature well-known artists, popular singers, and local performers. Officials said the 2026 festival is intended to be more than a traditional celebration, describing it as a unifying national event involving government officials, Hluttaw representatives, civil servants, and the public under a renewed social and political environment.