Akha Swing Festival 2025 Celebrates Hill Tribe Traditions in Chiang Rai

The Akha Swing Festival

A Once-a-Year Celebration of Akha Heritage, Rituals, and Highland Culture in Northern Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) invites all travellers to experience one of Chiang Rai’s most vibrant ethnic celebrations — the Akha Swing Festival 2025. This cultural event offers a rare opportunity to witness the living heritage of the Akha hill tribe, celebrated only once a year in various communities across Chiang Rai.

The Akha Swing Festival marks the Akha New Year and honours E-Um Sa Yae, the goddess believed to bring abundance to crops and the land. It also reflects the Akha people’s deep respect for women — Akha women prepare ornate traditional dress months in advance, worn especially for this festival. At the heart of the celebration is the swing itself, built from large wooden beams and used in symbolic rites and festive games.

The most prominent of this year’s events is “Bo Chong Tu: The Akha Swing Festival”, taking place on 6–7 September at Phra Siam Thewathirat Square in Sam Yaek Akha Village, Mae Fa Luang District. This venue is expected to draw large crowds, featuring cultural performances, swing demonstrations, drumming shows, tribal parades, a hill tribe food fair, and a traditional market.

Additional events are scheduled at other key Akha communities in Chiang Rai:

Ban Phahee, Mae Sai District

The Akha Swing Festival

The Akha Swing Festival at Ban Phahee will run from 4 to 8 September 2025 at the village swing ground. The programme includes the 7th annual “Akha Cup” football competition (4–5 September), swing construction rituals (6 September), and the formal festival opening on 7 September. Visitors can expect traditional performances, community games, and local food contests, culminating with the final swing events on 8 September.

Doi Pha Mee, Mae Sai District

The Akha Swing Festival

The festival at Ban Pha Mee will take place from 6 to 8 September 2025. Traditional swing activities and community-led performances will be held at the village swing site, showcasing local identity in a natural highland setting.

The Akha Swing Festival remains a cultural highlight on Chiang Rai’s calendar — a celebration of ancestral heritage, spiritual traditions, and ethnic pride. TAT encourages early planning for those wishing to experience this once-a-year cultural showcase in Northern Thailand.

For further information, contact TAT Chiang Rai Office at +66 (0) 5371 7433.
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