January falls in the heart of Cambodia’s cool, dry season, making it one of the most comfortable months to travel â and one of the busiest for international arrivals. Alongside a quiet start to the year, the month brings a solemn national day of remembrance, one of Southeast Asia’s toughest trail races through the temples of Angkor, and the opening weeks of an internationally recognized photography festival in Siem Reap.
This guide lists the most important Cambodia events in January 2027, including confirmed dates, locations and practical information for travelers.
Cambodia Events in January 2027 at a Glance
| Date | Event | Location | Type | Tourist Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | Nationwide | National Holiday | Low |
| January 7 | Victory Over Genocide Day | Nationwide | National Holiday / Remembrance | Medium |
| January 23 | Angkor Trail (Ultra-Trail Angkor) | Siem Reap / Angkor Archaeological Park | Sport / Trail Running | High |
| Late JanuaryâEarly February (dates TBA) | Angkor Photo Festival | Siem Reap | Photography / Arts | Medium |
January 1: New Year’s Day
When: January 1, 2027
Where: Nationwide
Type: National holiday
Cambodia observes the international New Year’s Day as a public holiday, alongside most of the world.
It is a quiet holiday rather than a major festival â government offices close and some Cambodian families use the day for a low-key gathering, but there is no citywide public celebration comparable to Khmer New Year in April.
For travelers, the main practical effect is that some banks and government offices will be closed, so plan visa or administrative errands around it.
January 7: Victory Over Genocide Day
When: January 7, 2027
Where: Nationwide, with the main state ceremony in Phnom Penh
Type: National holiday and day of remembrance
Victory Over Genocide Day marks the anniversary of the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime on January 7, 1979, when Vietnamese-backed forces took Phnom Penh and ended the period historians estimate killed roughly a quarter of Cambodia’s population between 1975 and 1979.
It is a public holiday, marked officially with wreath-laying ceremonies and state events, though the date remains genuinely contested within Cambodia â some view it as liberation, others as the start of a decade of Vietnamese occupation, and the day carries real political weight domestically.
For travelers, it is a good opportunity to visit Phnom Penh’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields with a measure of added context, though both sites are open and worth visiting on any date.
Tourist tip: Some government offices close for the day; this rarely affects hotels, restaurants or transport.
January 23: Angkor Trail (Ultra-Trail Angkor)
When: January 23, 2027
Where: Siem Reap and the Angkor Archaeological Park
Type: International trail-running race
The Angkor Trail, formerly known as Ultra-Trail d’Angkor, holds its ninth edition on January 23, 2027, and is the only race officially authorized to run through the Angkor Archaeological Park, a 400-square-kilometer UNESCO World Heritage site.
The event offers six distances to suit very different ability levels: a 100km ultra-distance course, a 64km “Bayon Trail,” a 42km marathon, a 32km “Jungle Trail,” a 21.1km half-marathon (“Naga Trail Angkor”), and 10km walk-and-hike/elephant-trail options, plus a new 4km kids’ race for ages 12â15.
Organizers describe the trails as newly cut and genuinely wild, weaving between temples rather than following paved tourist routes, and the race is approved by Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and the Cambodian Olympic Committee.
Even travelers not racing can expect a livelier-than-usual atmosphere in Siem Reap around race weekend, with runners and support crews from dozens of countries in town.
If you want to participate or simply watch, book accommodation in Siem Reap well ahead of the date, since race weekends compress the usual hotel supply.
Late JanuaryâEarly February (Dates TBA): Angkor Photo Festival
When: Historically late January into early February; the 2026 edition ran January 30âFebruary 8. Exact 2027 dates not yet announced
Where: Various venues around Siem Reap
Type: Photography and arts festival
The Angkor Photo Festival is an internationally recognized documentary-photography event that has run in Siem Reap for over two decades, drawing photographers, curators and free public exhibitions from across the region.
The festival combines free open-air exhibitions around town with a parallel program of workshops for emerging Southeast Asian photographers, and it has become a genuine fixture of Siem Reap’s cultural calendar outside the temples.
Exact 2027 dates were not yet confirmed at the time of writing; check the festival’s official channels closer to your travel dates if this is a specific reason for your trip.
What Is January Like for Travelers in Cambodia?
January sits at the heart of Cambodia’s cool, dry season, generally considered the most comfortable stretch of the year to visit â lower humidity, minimal rain and cooler evenings than the rest of the year, especially around Siem Reap and the northern plains.
This is also peak international tourist season, so Angkor Wat and other major sites are at their busiest, and hotel prices in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh tend to sit at their annual high.
See our best time to visit Siem Reap guide for more detail on weather and crowd patterns this time of year.
Where to Stay in Cambodia in January
Your choice of base depends on which events you want to combine with your trip.
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the obvious base for the Angkor Trail race and the Angkor Photo Festival, and since January is peak season, book well ahead.
Compare different areas in our Where to Stay in Siem Reap guide, or browse the full range in our best hotels in Siem Reap guide.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the natural base around Victory Over Genocide Day if you want to visit Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek, and is generally quieter and cheaper than Siem Reap in January.
See our guide to where to stay in Phnom Penh before booking, or compare properties directly in our best hotels in Phnom Penh guide.
January Events in Cambodia: What Should Tourists Prioritize?
If you are planning a Cambodia trip specifically around January events, here is a rough order of priority for international travelers:
- Angkor Trail â January 23, for runners or anyone who enjoys race-day atmosphere in Siem Reap
- Angkor Photo Festival â late January into early February, for a free, culturally rich alternative to the temples
- Victory Over Genocide Day â January 7, primarily relevant if you are already planning to visit Phnom Penh’s genocide-history sites
New Year’s Day is worth knowing about for planning purposes but is not itself a reason to time a trip around.
Bottom Line
January is a quieter month for dedicated festivals in Cambodia, but it lands squarely in the best weather window of the year, and 2027 brings two genuinely worthwhile draws for the right kind of traveler.
Runners and race-day spectators have the Angkor Trail on January 23, while photography and arts fans can time a Siem Reap trip around the Angkor Photo Festival’s late-January opening.
If you are planning a January trip, use this calendar as a starting point and check official event sources before traveling, since exact festival dates can shift from year to year.
Sources
- PublicHolidays.asia â Victory Day 2027 in Cambodia
- Angkor Ultra-Trail â Official Event Site â 9th edition, January 23, 2027, race distances and course details.
- Ahotu â Angkor Trail, January 23, 2027
- Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops â Official Site â 2026 edition dates (January 30âFebruary 8, 2026).