Are banks open in Thailand on 16 and 23 October 2026?
Thailand has two Friday bank holidays in a row this month. On Friday 16 October 2026, banks in Bangkok close for a special holiday during the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings. On Friday 23 October, banks across the country close for Chulalongkorn Day. Both dates are on the Bank of Thailand's list of financial institution holidays, which banks follow (Bangkok Bank).
The two dates at a glance
| Date | Holiday | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 October | Additional special holiday for the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings | Bangkok only |
| Fri 23 October | King Chulalongkorn the Great Memorial Day | Whole country |
16 October: Bangkok's special holiday
On 19 May 2026 the Cabinet declared Friday 16 October a special public holiday in Bangkok. The aim is to ease travel and improve security for the finance ministers and central bank governors attending the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Bank of Thailand then made 16 October a holiday for financial institutions in Bangkok. Banks may still keep core operations running where needed, especially if stopping a service would cause disruption (Bank of Thailand).
- The meetings run from 12 to 18 October at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
- Government offices in Bangkok are closed on 16 October. Their staff work from home on 12, 14 and 15 October, which remain working days.
- Private companies set their own arrangements, so check with your employer (Nation Thailand).
23 October: Chulalongkorn Day
Chulalongkorn Day (Wan Piyamaharat) is a public holiday throughout Thailand. It marks the death of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, in 1910 (Wikipedia). In 2026 it falls on a Friday, so most people get a three-day weekend from 23 to 25 October. Banks reopen on Monday 26 October.
The remaining bank holidays of 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Mon 7 December | Substitution for H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's Birthday, National Day and Father's Day (Saturday 5 December) |
| Thu 10 December | Constitution Day |
| Thu 31 December | New Year's Eve |
Earlier in October, Tuesday 13 October was King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Memorial Day. If you need a branch, go on Thursday 15 October in Bangkok, or on Thursday 22 October elsewhere.
