Cambodian New Year for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Friday, April 14th. There are until the next observance.

The Cambodian New Year, which takes place between April 14 and 16, is also known as the Khmer New Year. This is because the Khmer people of Cambodia celebrate the festival with vigor. And, sure, much like the traditional New Year’s Day celebrated across the world on January 1, this event is filled with celebrations, fireworks, parties, and a lot of fun! In India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, it is also the traditional solar new year.

📆 When is Cambodian New Year?

This year, Cambodian New Year is on April 14th. It is the 2nd Friday in April; in 2024, it is on Sunday.

Countdown to Cambodian New Year

Did you know: The nation is home to 19 different languages.

You can also learn all cool things you didn’t know about and facts about April 14, 2023.

📜 History of Cambodian New Year

The tradition goes that Dhammabal Koma, the son of a wealthy man, had completed his study of the three Vedas. He was well-known for his expertise and ability to speak with birds. The king of the gods, who had learnt of Koma’s cleverness, once challenged him with a riddle. Confident that Koma would fail to solve the riddle, the monarch stated that the loser would be decapitated. Koma labored for days but was unable to solve the puzzle, so he committed suicide in the wilderness. He fell asleep in the jungle and overheard a discussion between two vultures. During that talk, he discovered the solution to the puzzle. The monarch was decapitated, and his daughters carried his head on a plate in a ceremonial circuit around Mount Sumeru, as he had requested. It is thought that on this day, a new angel descends on earth for the event, bringing happiness and pleasant weather with him.

Cambodians clean their houses and burn candles to acknowledge the presence of the divine. They pay their respects to Buddha by preparing food to greet the spirits. Each of the three days of celebration is designated a distinct event, and the goal is for Cambodians to create many great experiences on their Khmer Day.

☑️ Cambodian New Year facts

It is a Buddhist nation
Approximately 95% of Cambodians identify as Buddhists.

It once was a French Colony
Cambodia was originally a colony of the French Empire.

It is a tourism hub
Tourism, Cambodia’s second-largest income source, is a major sector.

Things to do on Cambodian New Year

Play the Khmer New Year’s games
Play some traditional and cultural games to commemorate the day. Make sure that everyone, regardless of age, may participate in the games you’ve chosen.

Attend the celebrations
Several activities are organized around Cambodia on this day to commemorate the milestone. These events are incredibly enjoyable for both tourists and locals. Attend a party and continue to party all night!

Explore the nation’s capital
Explore Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital and the country’s most populous city. The Central Market, Royal Palace, National Museum, and other historic monuments in the area are well-known.

📅 Cambodian New Year Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 April 14 Friday
2024 April 14 Sunday
2025 April 14 Monday
2026 April 14 Tuesday
2027 April 14 Wednesday

See all April holidays, including Cultural and other Activities holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and cool facts about Cambodian New Year. So be sure to check back soon.