What the expo is
The Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026 is the first AIPH-recognised international horticultural expo in Thailand’s Northeast. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives runs it on about 165 hectares (1,030 rai) of the Nong Dae wetland, under the theme “Diversity of Life: Connecting People, Water and Plants for Sustainable Living”.
The expo is open from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027, 134 days in all; some media report the formal opening ceremony on 2 November. Afterwards, the site is due to become a permanent public park.
What to see
Figures are the organisers’ as of late October 2026 and may change during the run.
- 32 international gardens from 17 countries and 2 international organisations, plus 16 gardens by Thai organisations
- The greenhouse, an indoor house for ornamentals and orchids, and a desert-plant and cactus house
- More than a million flowering plants, changed through the season, plus a lotus garden and fruit-growing and farm-technology exhibits
- Royal tribute exhibitions and “134 years of stories: Udon Thani today”
- An Isan village, a waterside community market and more than 200 performances on the Tum Hom stage over the run
- Buildings drawn from local culture, such as the jar-shaped hall inspired by Ban Chiang pottery
Tickets
Buy at allticket.com, at 7-Eleven stores selling All Ticket, or at the gate. Online buyers get an e-ticket; the gate issues paper tickets.
- General ticket: 199 THB a day, the same for Thai and foreign visitors, up to 14 per purchase
- Udon Thani resident pass: 199 THB for all 134 days, for holders of a Thai ID card with an Udon Thani address, one each
- Sabai Dee pass: 199 THB for 30 days, for Thai ID holders from Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu and Bueng Kan
- Free one-day entry for Thai nationals: children 15 and under, people aged 60 and over, people with disabilities, and monks, novices and nuns; collect at the gate with ID
- Groups, companies and schools register through LINE @organizer.udonexpo
Getting there
If you’re travelling as a family or heading on to other sights, driving is easiest. The expo has several car parks, some free and some paid, and some with a shuttle to the gates. Check the latest parking map on the UdonThaniExpo2026 Facebook page before you set off.
Extra bus trips run during the expo, including route 4305 via Udon Thani Airport and Bus Terminal 2, and route 4604 Udon Thani–Kumphawapi, from about 08:00 with last returns around 20:00. Trains also pass the site.
Weekends and long holidays are likely to be busy. If you can, arrive at opening time or come on a weekday, leave time to park, and bring a hat, an umbrella and water.
Make a trip of it
The expo runs through the cool season, the same months as the Red Lotus Sea at Nong Han, Kumphawapi, which is in bloom roughly from December to February (go in the morning; you see it by boat). Spend one day at the expo, another at the Red Lotus Sea or Ban Chiang, and add a day in Nong Khai on the Mekong.
Hotels in town may fill up during the expo, so book early.
Is it open from 1 November?
Yes. The organisers list 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027, daily 08:00–20:00, though some media report the opening ceremony on 2 November. Check udonthaniexpo2026.com for the latest notice.
Do foreign visitors pay more?
No. The general ticket is 199 THB for both Thai and foreign visitors.
How long should I allow?
The site covers more than a thousand rai. Allow at least half a day, and a full day for the international gardens and shows.
