Events & Festivals in Siem Reap

The premier hotels and cultural stages throughout Siem Reap run their most ambitious schedules of classical Khmer dance during the dry-season peak. Venues near Sivatha Boulevard and the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor stage nightly performances of the centuries-old court art form, typically pairing the dancing with a Cambodian set dinner. Shows last roughly ninety minutes. They make for an accessible introduction to Khmer dance traditions for visitors with just a few days in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap's large Angkor Night Market reaches peak activity during the dry-season tourism rush, with hundreds of stalls selling Cambodian silk, stone carvings, silver jewelry, and handmade crafts under lantern-lit walkways. The market occupies a large compound near Sivatha Boulevard and stays open late into the evening. Food vendors line the perimeter, and occasional live music acts perform on a central stage. Bargaining is expected at most stalls. The atmosphere stays relaxed throughout the evening.

Organized by the Bayon Information Centre, this community parade features enormous papier-mache puppets built by local youth and artisans, carried through the streets of central Siem Reap with traditional music and drumming. The puppets depict characters from Khmer folklore and the Reamker epic. The parade route typically runs from the Royal Gardens area through the city center, drawing families and visitors who line the streets to watch the procession. The event promotes traditional Khmer arts among younger generations in Siem Reap.

Charity cycling events take riders through the Angkor Archaeological Park and surrounding countryside villages on routes ranging from easy family-friendly loops to longer endurance circuits. The rides raise funds for local education and health programs and attract both resident expats and visiting cyclists. The flat terrain around Siem Reap and the shaded temple roads make for pleasant riding even in warmer months. Support vehicles and water stations are provided along marked routes. Rental bikes are available for those without their own.

During the spring equinox, the sun rises directly behind the central tower of Angkor Wat, creating a dramatic silhouette against the brightening sky. Thousands of photographers and visitors arrive well before dawn to secure positions near the reflecting pools for the clearest view. The alignment lasts only a few minutes, and cloud cover can obscure it entirely. Even an imperfect equinox morning at Angkor Wat rewards the early start with extraordinary light across the temple grounds and moat.

The acclaimed social enterprise opens its silk farm and stone carving workshops on the outskirts of Siem Reap for guided tours during special open days. Visitors watch artisans weaving silk on traditional looms, shaping sandstone replicas of Angkor-era carvings, and applying lacquer in techniques passed down through generations. The workshops employ young Cambrians from rural communities. The open days offer a closer look at the training process than the standard retail showroom tour in the city center.

As temperatures peak in Siem Reap before the monsoon arrives, the night markets along the riverfront and near Old Market extend their hours and add rows of food vendors. The Noon Night Market and Phsar Chas area become cooler-evening gathering spots where locals and travelers eat grilled meats, fresh fruit shakes, and Khmer noodle dishes side by side. The expanded format runs through the hottest weeks and tapers off once afternoon rains begin. Seating is informal. It is shared between stalls.

Phare, The Cambodian Circus launches new productions under its big top on the edge of Siem Reap, blending Khmer storytelling with contemporary circus arts. Acrobatics, contortion, juggling, and live music accompany narratives drawn from Cambodian history and daily life. The performers are graduates of Phare Ponleu Selpak, an arts school in Battambang, and the shows rotate through the year. The mid-year premiere brings a fresh production that runs alongside returning favorites, keeping the repertoire varied for repeat visitors.

Floating village communities on the Tonle Sap lake hold pagoda blessing ceremonies as the annual flood cycle prepares to begin. Monks at waterside temples receive offerings from fishing families in small boats decorated for the occasion. The ceremonies at Kompong Khleang and Chong Khneas are the most accessible from Siem Reap, reachable by car and then boat. These are genuine community observances rather than tourist productions, so visitors should dress modestly and observe quietly without interrupting the proceedings.

Art galleries and studios along the Siem Reap River and in the French Quarter hold coordinated evening openings, showing works by Cambodian contemporary artists alongside traditional Khmer art forms. Venues like Theam's House and smaller independent studios participate, often pairing exhibitions with artist talks or live painting sessions. The gallery walks are informal and spread across a walkable stretch of the riverfront. Green season evenings are warm but the rain usually clears by late afternoon, leaving pleasant conditions for walking between venues.

Food vendors from across Siem Reap province set up expanded street food offerings near the Old Market area, featuring regional dishes like fish amok steamed in banana leaf, beef lok lak, and num banh chok rice noodles with green curry. Siem Reap specialties include grilled Tonle Sap fish and seasonal ant egg salads when available. The festival format clusters vendors together in a compact area for easy comparison, and most dishes are ordered and eaten standing or on low plastic stools at communal tables.

The stilt-house community of Kampong Khleang on the Tonle Sap celebrates the start of the annual flood season, when the Mekong reverses the lake's flow and water levels rise several meters over weeks. Boat processions and communal feasting mark the transition as the dry-season landscape disappears beneath expanding waters. The village sits roughly an hour from Siem Reap by road and is one of the largest communities on the lake. Visiting during this period shows the Tonle Sap ecosystem at its most dramatic transformation.

Bars and venues along Pub Street, Street 7, and the riverside host live music during the quieter green season months, featuring Cambodian rock bands, traditional chapei dong veng performers, and visiting regional acts. The Laundry Bar, Miss Wong, and several rooftop venues are regular hosts. Sets typically start after dark and run late into the night. The atmosphere is casual and walk-in, and the music ranges from Cambodian golden-era rock revival to contemporary Khmer indie and acoustic singer-songwriter sets.

Runners compete in full marathon, half marathon, and shorter distances along a route winding through the Angkor Archaeological Park, passing Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm in an early morning start. The race begins before sunrise to manage the August heat, and the temple backdrop makes it one of Southeast Asia's more scenic distance events. International and Cambodian runners participate, with proceeds supporting local community projects in Siem Reap province. Registration fills well in advance of race day.

This UNESCO-inscribed art form features large leather shadow puppets, some reaching two meters tall, depicting scenes from the Reamker, the Khmer adaptation of the Ramayana. Master puppeteers manipulate the intricately cut figures against a backlit screen while narrators and musicians perform live. Siem Reap is the main center for sbek thom preservation, and performances take place at cultural venues and occasionally within temple grounds. The art form nearly disappeared during the Khmer Rouge period, and its survival owes much to a handful of master artists who kept it alive.

Angkor Wat delivers its second annual sunrise alignment each September. The autumn equinox draws far fewer visitors than March. You will find space near the reflecting pools. The landscape looks its best now. Months of monsoon rain have left everything lush. The moat is full. Reflections come out cleaner. Cloud cover happens more often than in March. It usually clears fast. The alignment appears.

Cambodian Living Arts runs concerts in Siem Reap. Students trained by master musicians perform on traditional Khmer instruments. You will hear the tro fiddle, skor drums, and roneat xylophone. These traditions nearly vanished under the Khmer Rouge. The venues stay small. Audiences sit close. Acoustic detail survives here. Larger stages lose it. Visitors can also book workshops. Try the instruments yourself.

Kathina ceremonies follow the end of Buddhist Lent. Lay communities at pagodas across Siem Reap province present robes and supplies to monks. Processions with traditional music move through neighborhoods. They reach each pagoda by midday. Offerings happen there. Communal meals follow. Different pagodas host on different days throughout October. You can catch ceremonies repeatedly. Wat Bo and Wat Damnak sit in central Siem Reap. Both are easy to reach.

The weekly Made in Cambodia Market on King's Road runs an expanded fair. Extra craft vendors join. Organic farmers come. Social enterprises display their products. Local NGOs and small businesses sell handmade goods from recycled materials. Natural cosmetics appear. Cambodian designed clothing lines the stalls. Acoustic music plays all afternoon and evening. Cooking demonstrations run alongside. The market funds local employment and training. Vendors explain their social missions. Your purchase connects to the community. Standard souvenir shopping cannot match this.

Southeast Asia's leading photography festival lands in Siem Reap. International and Cambodian photographers exhibit outdoors and indoors. Portfolio reviews happen. Multi day workshops run throughout the event. Exhibition prints hang across the city. Pagoda grounds host some. Gallery walls hold others. Public gardens display more. All exhibitions are free. Workshop topics include documentary, portrait, and landscape photography. Established photographers lead them. The festival began in 2005. It now draws the regional photography community annually.

Monsoon rains fade. Outdoor dining returns to Siem Reap. Food vendors expand evening hours after months of limited service. Stalls near Phsar Leu market and along the riverfront reopen fully. Grilled Tonle Sap fish hits the grills. Phnom pleung Cambodian hot plate barbecue sizzles. Hearty soups suit the cooler nights. November brings drier weather. Temperatures drop. Fresh harvests arrive. Locals and tourists pack communal tables nightly.

This half marathon and 10K rank among Southeast Asia's signature road races since 1996. The course winds through Angkor temple complex at sunrise. Thousands of international runners join Cambodian athletes. The route passes Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. Proceeds support demining organizations and local charities in Siem Reap province. The start comes before dawn. December heat demands it. Temple silhouettes in early light make this one of the region's most photographed distance events.

Phare, The Cambodian Circus, stages special year end performances. Gala shows combine the strongest acts from across their rotating repertoire. The shows pull from multiple productions. Audiences get a sampler. The range spans slapstick physical comedy to dramatic acrobatic narratives rooted in Cambodian history. Post show gatherings sometimes include meet the artist sessions. Local vendors provide food. December shows sell out early. Tourist numbers climb toward dry season peak.