2026 New Year's Holiday, Bangkok Exposed to High Risk of Air Pollution

Illustration of air pollution in Bangkok. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Ahead of the 2026 New Year, the city government of Bangkok, Thailand, issued an early warning regarding the increase in air pollution in the capital region. The PM2.5 rate, fine dust particles that are harmful to health, is expected to rise as air circulation weakens during the long New Year's holiday period.

According to the Bangkok Air Quality Information Center, air conditions are monitored for the period from December 26, 2025 to January 3, 2026. Several days in the range are predicted to have a high risk of increased pollution, especially at the peak of travel and New Year's Eve celebrations.

"Residents are urged to remain vigilant and monitor air quality regularly, especially at night and in the morning when air circulation is very weak," said an official from the Bangkok Air Quality Information Center.

On December 26 and 27, air quality is still considered good with wind currents that help disperse fine particles in the atmosphere. However, starting from December 28 to 30, the condition is expected to worsen. Decreased air ventilation can cause PM2.5 accumulation, especially at night to morning.

This situation is predicted to reach its peak at night on New Year's Eve, December 31 to January 1, when heavy traffic, fireworks parties, and increased outdoor activities have the potential to exacerbate pollution levels. Authorities also warned that downtown areas and areas that are under the wind direction of major roads will be the locations with the highest risk.

In addition to fireworks and motor vehicles, increased travel during long holidays also contributed to the increase in air pollution levels.

The good news is, after January 2 to 3, air circulation is expected to improve and pollution levels will gradually decrease. Even so, residents are asked to remain vigilant and limit outdoor activities if air quality deteriorates.

The AirBKK application is recommended as the main source of information to monitor real-time PM2.5 data throughout Bangkok. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with heart or respiratory diseases are advised to use protective masks and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

The city government emphasizes public awareness and personal prevention measures are essential to minimize health impacts during the New Year period, when mobility and community activity increase rapidly.