The table below gives an overview of the official public holidays and festivals in Cambodia, updated for the year 2017.
| Name | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| International New Year’s Day | January 1 | International New Year’s Day is also celebrated in Cambodia. |
| Victory Day | January 7 | Celebrates the end of the Khmer Rouge regime, after their defeat by the Vietnamese. |
| Meak Bochea Day | Movable * February 11, 2017 |
The second most important holy day in Buddhist countries (aka Magha Puja, Makha Bucha, or the Full Moon of Tabaung), celebrated each year on the first full moon day of the third lunar month. |
| International Women’s Day | March 8 | A day to celebrate the bravery of women all around the world. |
| Khmer New Year | April 14 – 16 | The most important public holiday in Cambodia, celebrated for 3 consecutive days. This holiday is also known as Chaul Chnam Thmey. |
| Labor Day | May 1 | A public holiday in over 80 countries in the world, celebrating the international labor movement. This day is also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day. |
| Visak Bochea Day | Movable * May 10, 2017 |
This is the most important holy day for Buddhists, commemorating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing to the nirvana. Celebrated in April or May. |
| King Sihamoni’s Birthday | May 13 – 15 | His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni’s birthday is 14 May 2013, but it’s celebrated for 3 consecutive days. |
| Royal Plowing Ceremony | Movable * May 14, 2017 |
This day is also known as Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol and celebrates the traditional beginning of rice growing season. |
| International Children’s Day | June 1 | A day in honor of children around the world, also known as International Day for Protection of Children. |
| King’s Mother Birthday | June 18 | A day in celebration of the birthday of HM the King’s Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, who was born in 1936. |
| Pchum Ben Day | Movable * September 19 – 21, 2017 |
A day for Buddhists to pay respect to their deceased relatives by cooking food for monks and making offerings at the pagoda. This day is also called Ancestors’ Day. |
| Constitution Day | September 24 | This national holiday was established to celebrate the signing of the Cambodian constitution by King Sihanouk. |
| King’s Father Norodom Sihanouk Commemoration Day | October 15 | This is a new holiday in honour of the late King’s Father Norodom Sihanouk, who passed away on October 15, 2012. |
| Paris Peace Agreement Day | October 23 | A day to celebrate the signing of the peace treaty in Paris on 23 October, 1991. |
| King Norodom Sihamoni Coronation Day | October 29 | This day celebrates the anniversary of the coronation of HM King Norodom Sihamoni. |
| Water Festival Ceremony | Movable * November 2 – 4, 2017 |
The Water Festival, also known as Bon Om Touk, celebrates the end of the monsoon season and also the time when the water in the Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake changes course. |
| Independence Day | November 9 | Celebrating the independence from France in 1953. |
| Human Rights Day | December 10 | A public holiday established to commemorate the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. |
* Remark: Public Holidays marked as “Movable” can occur on different dates in different years. Usually, the dates of these holidays are determined by a full moon or by astrology.
