Short answer
The next Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan are on 24 November and 24 December 2026, then 22 January 2027, according to a schedule site that says it uses dates confirmed by the Haad Rin business association. The party is held on Haad Rin beach on or near the night of the full moon and can move a day or two around Thai holidays. The UK Foreign Office says attacks are most common during full moon parties. From Samui it is a short boat to Phangan, but the last boats back leave in the early evening, so plan to sleep on the island.
Full Moon Party dates from November 2026 to December 2027
The next parties are 24 November 2026 and 24 December 2026, followed by a New Year's Eve party on 31 December 2026, which the schedule site says has no astronomical full moon but is still large. For 2027 it lists 22 January, 22 February, 22 March, 21 April and 21 May. The site says it uses dates confirmed by the Haad Rin business association, and that dates can shift by one or two days around national holidays.
The rest of 2027, on the same site, are 19 June, 20 July, 17 August, 15 September, 16 October, 13 November and 13 December, with another New Year's Eve party on 31 December 2027. Wikipedia says the party takes place on the night of the full moon, or a night earlier or later around a significant religious holiday. The US Naval Observatory puts the full moon on 24 November 2026 at 14:53 UTC, 24 December 2026 at 01:28 UTC and 22 January 2027 at 12:17 UTC, and Thailand is seven hours ahead. For July 2027 the site's date is two days after the full moon of 18 July, so confirm any date with your hotel before you book boats.
Where it is held and how it works
The party is held at Haad Rin, on the southern tip of Koh Phangan. Wikipedia says it takes place on Sunrise Beach, the larger of the town's two beaches, and draws a crowd of about 5,000 to 30,000 people every full moon, finishing at sunrise. Wikivoyage adds that the three or four days before the full moon have their own smaller parties at different places in and near Haad Rin.
The schedule site lists entry as 200 baht in cash at the beach gate, with no online tickets, and hours from about 9 pm to sunrise. It warns that anyone selling tickets in advance is a scam. This is a commercial site, and we could not confirm the fee or the hours from an official source, so treat both as a guide and ask your hotel. Wikivoyage's Haad Rin page gives 150 to 400 baht for a bucket drink, an undated figure.
Is the Full Moon Party safe?
It is a very large night party, and the official advice is to take care. The UK Foreign Office says violent sexual assaults and unprovoked attacks can happen in tourist areas across Thailand, and that they are most common during full moon parties or similar events, and near bars late at night. It says drink spiking happens, with male and female victims, and advises not leaving drinks unattended or accepting drinks from strangers. Wikipedia also reports assaults and robberies at the party.
The Foreign Office also warns about methanol in some alcoholic drinks in Thailand: even small amounts can kill, and you cannot tell by taste or smell. It says drinks served in bars are often stronger than in the UK, and that alcohol and drugs make you more vulnerable to accidents and robbery. The habits that follow are simple: go with people you trust, keep your own drink in sight, and pre-arrange your way home, as the Foreign Office advises.
Rules that catch visitors out
Drug laws are strict. The Foreign Office says possessing small quantities of illegal substances can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment, and that cannabis use is restricted to medical purposes with a Thai-issued prescription. Wikipedia notes undercover police at the parties. Vapes are illegal too: the Foreign Office says it is illegal to possess or use any vape, e-cigarette or heat-not-burn device in Thailand, with fines typically of 5,000 to 30,000 baht. These rules change, so check the official page before you travel.
Alcohol sales are restricted between midnight and 11 am, according to the Foreign Office, except in licensed hotels, international airport terminals and authorised entertainment venues. Keep valuables locked away: Wikipedia says break-ins at hotel bungalows happen while guests are at the party. If you hire a scooter or jet ski, the Foreign Office says never to hand over your passport as a guarantee, and Wikivoyage's Haad Rin page warns of false damage claims of up to 90,000 baht on jet skis.
Getting there from Samui, and why you stay the night
From Samui you take a boat from Bangrak Pier, near the airport, to Phangan. Seatran Discovery says the crossing to Thong Sala takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and recommends booking ahead during Full Moon Party periods. Its booking form also lists a Haad Rin Queen pier on both islands, and the schedule site says that boat lands at the party beach. Our Samui to Phangan ferry guide covers piers and fares.
Plan to sleep on Phangan. Lomprayah's 2026 timetable lists the last boat from Phangan to Samui at 18:00 to 18:30, and Wikivoyage's Koh Phangan guide warns that boats on the day after the party are packed with people leaving together. Wikivoyage's Haad Rin page puts songthaew rides at around 100 baht and advises pre-booking the return to Thong Sala, because drivers charge much more in the early hours. These notes are undated, so ask your hotel for current prices.
Which month: rain, sea and crowds
The party runs all year, so the month decides the weather. Wikipedia says the heaviest rain on Samui falls from mid October to early December, which includes the party on 24 November 2026. The schedule site describes November as heavy rain with the smallest crowds of the year, and warns that rough seas can delay ferries. Wikivoyage says the best time on Samui is January and February, when it is dry and slightly cooler, which covers the party on 22 January 2027.
If your dates fall in the wet window, leave a spare day around any ferry, and do not book a flight for the morning after the party. The schedule site says rooms near Haad Rin fill up weeks ahead, so book early. For the wider picture, see our guides to Koh Samui in November and Koh Samui in December.
Where our Koh Tao day fits, and when not to book it
Our Koh Tao and Nang Yuan day trip does not go to the Full Moon Party and is not a way to reach it. The speedboat leaves a pier in the north of Samui at about 9:00, passes Koh Phangan on the way to Koh Tao, and is back at your hotel between about 4:00 and 5:00 pm. It is from $55 per person, and on our tour the hotel transfer, lunch and snorkelling gear are included.
Do not book it for the morning after the party. The crossing is over open sea, takes about 1 to 1.5 hours each way and can be bumpy, and the day is not suitable for pregnant women or for guests with back problems or heart conditions. Island entrance fees are paid in cash on the day: 250 baht per adult and 120 per child. If you want clear water and a quiet day, our Koh Tao snorkelling guide shows what the day offers.
Practical checklist
- Check the party date with your hotel: the schedule site lists 24 November and 24 December 2026, and dates can move by a day or two.
- Book a room on Phangan and a boat from Samui early; the last boats back are listed at 18:00 to 18:30.
- Go with people you trust, keep your drink in sight and pre-arrange your way home.
- Do not carry drugs or vapes: both can bring heavy fines, and drug offences can mean prison.
- Keep valuables locked at your hotel and never leave your passport as a deposit.
Questions and answers
When is the next Full Moon Party?
A schedule site lists 24 November 2026, then 24 December 2026 and a New Year's Eve party on 31 December 2026. Dates can shift by a day or two around holidays, so confirm with your hotel.
How much does the Full Moon Party cost?
The schedule site lists 200 baht in cash at the beach gate and says there are no online tickets. We could not confirm this from an official source, so ask your hotel before you go.
Is the Full Moon Party dangerous?
The UK Foreign Office says attacks and drink spiking are most common during full moon parties and near late-night bars, and advises keeping drinks in sight. Drug and vape laws are strict.
Can you go back to Koh Samui the same night?
Not by the published timetable. Lomprayah's 2026 timetable lists the last boat from Phangan to Samui at 18:00 to 18:30, so plan to stay the night on Phangan.
How long is the boat from Samui to Haad Rin?
Seatran Discovery says the crossing from Bangrak Pier to Thong Sala takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Haad Rin is a further songthaew ride, or a direct boat where one is running.
Is the Full Moon Party held every month?
Yes. Wikipedia says it takes place every full moon, on the night itself or a night earlier or later around a religious holiday, with a crowd of about 5,000 to 30,000.