February is one of the most culturally interesting months to be in Cambodia, bridging the tail end of the cool dry season with two very different celebrations: the color and noise of Chinese New Year in the country’s Chinese-Khmer communities, and the quiet candlelight devotion of one of Buddhism’s most important annual observances.
This guide lists the most important Cambodia events in February 2027, including confirmed dates, locations and practical information for travelers.
Cambodia Events in February 2027 at a Glance
| Date | Event | Location | Type | Tourist Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 6 | Chinese New Year | Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, nationwide | Cultural / Religious | Medium |
| February 21 (estimated) | Meak Bochea Day | Nationwide (main ceremony at Udong Mountain, Kandal) | National Holiday / Buddhist Observance | Medium |
| Late February (dates TBA) | Siem Reap Giant Puppet Parade | Siem Reap | Community Arts Festival | Medium-High |
February 6: Chinese New Year
When: February 6, 2027 (start of the 15-day Lunar New Year period)
Where: Phnom Penh (Wat Phnom and the riverside area), Siem Reap, and other cities with sizable Chinese-Khmer communities
Type: Cultural and religious celebration (not an official public holiday)
Chinese New Year is not an official Cambodian public holiday, but it is celebrated enthusiastically by the country’s large ethnic Chinese and Chinese-Khmer population, who make up a meaningful share of Cambodia’s business community.
Expect lion and dragon dance troupes performing outside shops, restaurants and homes for good luck, along with family reunion dinners, firecrackers and incense-burning at pagodas and temples associated with Chinese-Cambodian communities.
In Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom and the surrounding riverside area see some of the most visible celebrations, while many Chinese-owned businesses close for at least a day or two around the new year itself.
Tourist tip: Some shops, restaurants and even a few smaller guesthouses close for one to three days around the new year â if you rely on a specific business, check its hours in advance.
February 21 (Estimated): Meak Bochea Day
When: Full moon day of the third lunar month â falls on February 21, 2027 based on the lunar calendar (treat as a well-sourced estimate rather than a certainty until closer to the date)
Where: Pagodas nationwide; the largest single ceremony takes place at Udong Mountain in Kandal Province
Type: National holiday and major Buddhist observance
Meak Bochea commemorates a pivotal moment in Buddhist history: the spontaneous, unannounced gathering of 1,250 enlightened disciples who assembled to hear one of the Buddha’s core teachings, the OvÄdapÄtimokkha, and his announcement of his own eventual passing.
It is a genuine national public holiday, observed with almsgiving to monks at dawn, dhamma talks throughout the day, and â most visibly for visitors â candlelight processions (Wien Tien) at dusk, where devotees circle pagoda shrines three times holding candles, incense and lotus flowers.
Udong Mountain, roughly 40km northwest of Phnom Penh and a former royal capital, hosts the country’s largest single ceremony, drawing hundreds of monks and officials, but major pagodas in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang also hold their own observances.
Because this date follows the lunar calendar, the exact day shifts each year and is generally only confirmed close to the date â check local listings if you want to attend a specific pagoda’s ceremony.
Tourist tip: Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) if you plan to visit a pagoda for the evening candlelight procession, as you would for any Cambodian temple visit.
Late February (Dates TBA): Siem Reap Giant Puppet Parade
When: Historically late February; the 2026 edition took place on February 21. Exact 2027 dates not yet announced
Where: Central Siem Reap, typically starting near Wat Damnak and ending at the Royal Gardens
Type: Community arts festival
The Giant Puppet Parade is an annual evening spectacle organized by the Giant Puppet Project alongside Phare Ponleu Selpak, the nonprofit arts school founded by Cambodian refugees that also runs the well-known Phare Circus in Battambang.
Over 450 local children take part in weeks of artist-led workshops beforehand, building oversized, elaborately decorated puppets that then parade through central Siem Reap after dark to live traditional music, each year built around a different theme (the 2026 edition was themed “Wildlife of Cambodia”).
It is free to watch, family-friendly, and a genuinely different way to experience Siem Reap after the temples close for the day.
Exact 2027 dates were not yet confirmed at the time of writing; check Phare Ponleu Selpak’s channels closer to your travel dates.
What Is February Like for Travelers in Cambodia?
February is still within Cambodia’s cool, dry season, though temperatures start climbing noticeably toward the end of the month as the country heads into its hot season (MarchâMay).
It remains a popular month for international visitors, so Angkor Wat and other headline sites stay busy, though slightly less so than the December-January peak.
See our best time to visit Siem Reap guide for more on weather and crowd patterns.
Where to Stay in Cambodia in February
Your choice of base again depends on which of the month’s events you want to combine with your trip.
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the obvious base for the Giant Puppet Parade and for combining Meak Bochea with a temple-focused trip.
Compare areas in our Where to Stay in Siem Reap guide, or see the full range in our best hotels in Siem Reap guide.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the best base for Chinese New Year, particularly around Wat Phnom and the riverside, and is also a convenient jumping-off point for a day trip to Udong Mountain for Meak Bochea.
See our guide to where to stay in Phnom Penh, or compare properties in our best hotels in Phnom Penh guide.
February Events in Cambodia: What Should Tourists Prioritize?
If you are planning a Cambodia trip specifically around February events, here is a rough order of priority for international travelers:
- Siem Reap Giant Puppet Parade â late February, for a free, visually striking evening event unlike anything else in Cambodia
- Chinese New Year â February 6, for lively street atmosphere in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
- Meak Bochea Day â February 21 (estimated), for a genuinely moving, low-key cultural experience if you can time a pagoda visit around dusk
None of these require major itinerary changes â all three can be layered onto a normal Siem Reap/Phnom Penh trip without extra travel.
Bottom Line
February pairs two very different sides of Cambodia: the loud, colorful street life of Chinese New Year on February 6, and the quiet candlelight devotion of Meak Bochea around February 21.
Add in the Siem Reap Giant Puppet Parade toward the end of the month, and travelers in Cambodia this February have a genuinely varied cultural calendar without needing to change their base city.
If you are planning a February trip, use this calendar as a starting point and confirm exact dates for the lunar-calendar events closer to travel, since Meak Bochea and the puppet parade’s precise dates are only finalized shortly beforehand.
Sources
- Chinese New Year 2027 date confirmation (February 6, 2027)
- Cambodianess â Chinese New Year in Cambodia
- TheSkyLive â Full Moon of February 2027 (February 20, 2027, 22:24 UTC â falls on February 21 local Indochina time), used to independently verify the Meak Bochea date
- CambodiaTravel â Meak Bochea Festival
- Phare Circus â Siem Reap Giant Puppet Parade (2026 edition details)