Khmer New Year2026 · Date · History · Messages
Council for Legal and Judicial Reform / Royal Government of Cambodia holiday calendar
About Khmer New Year
Khmer New Year is one of Cambodia’s major annual celebrations. The official 2026 public holiday period runs April 14–16, and people gather with family and communities for festivities that mark the traditional new year.
Because government schedules are issued for each year, the exact legally designated days should be checked in Cambodia’s target-year holiday calendar rather than copied uncritically from 2026.
Why Khmer New Year matters
The celebration marks renewal, good wishes, family ties and respect for elders, with religious and cultural activities that differ among households and communities.
Cambodia’s public-holiday dates and broader local celebrations are related but not interchangeable: a cultural celebration can extend beyond formally designated days.
History of Khmer New Year
Khmer New Year is rooted in traditional Cambodian calendrical and seasonal practice. The contemporary official holiday list provides the dates for a particular year, not an establishing law or first-ever celebration.
Cambodia’s Council for Legal and Judicial Reform and National Bank of Cambodia list April 14, 15 and 16 in their respective 2026 calendars.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
9 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Cambodian New Year
How to Observe Khmer New Year
Join appropriate family or community gatherings and exchange new-year wishes.
Learn about temple customs and respect the rules of religious spaces.
Confirm public office, transport and business arrangements through current Cambodian notices.
Khmer New Year Facts
2026 official dates: April 14–16.
Country: Cambodia; national holiday period.
The legal holiday schedule is reviewed by year; no unsupported permanent 2027 dates are supplied.
Traditional celebrations include home, community and religious settings.
Khmer New Year Messages
May Khmer New Year bring renewed hope and kindness to your home.
Wishing families a peaceful New Year and happy time together.
May this celebration strengthen the ties between generations and communities.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Confirm the date again before carrying it into a new year.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Cambodia Council for Legal and Judicial Reform — official 2026 holiday calendar (opens in a new tab)
Institutional Or Organizer
National Bank of Cambodia — official public holidays 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Institutional Or Organizer
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Khmer New Year?
14–16 April in Cambodia’s official 2026 holiday calendar; refresh the target-year official holiday notice The documented recurrence rule is: Refresh the Cambodian government holiday calendar for each target year; 14–16 April is verified for 2026 only.
Does Khmer New Year fall on the same date every year?
Not automatically. This date is specific to a particular edition and should be confirmed for another year.
Is Khmer New Year an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Cambodia national holiday period. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Khmer New Year?
The documented basis is: Council for Legal and Judicial Reform / Royal Government of Cambodia holiday calendar. Supporting evidence includes Cambodia Council for Legal and Judicial Reform — official 2026 holiday calendar. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Khmer New Year international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Cambodia national holiday period. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-08.
When is Khmer New Year in 2026?
Cambodia’s official 2026 holiday calendar lists April 14–16.
Does Khmer New Year fall on exactly the same legal dates every year?
Confirm the officially designated days in each year’s government holiday calendar; the 2026 dates must not be projected automatically.
Is it a Cambodian public holiday?
Yes, Cambodia lists a national New Year holiday period.
Are cultural festivities limited to official closure days?
Not necessarily. Local traditions and festivities can be broader than the statutory holiday schedule.