Chiang Mai is preparing to host The Ritual: Fire & Shadow Festival 2026, a new immersive cultural festival bringing together Lanna heritage, contemporary art, gastronomy, wellness, music and performance art in a day-to-night experience at Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai on 12th September 2026.
The festival was officially announced at a press conference held on 21st August at Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, presided over by Siwa Thamikan, Vice Governor of Chiang Mai. Representatives from the tourism, hospitality, wellness, arts and creative sectors joined the event, including Wasan Dechakan, Vice President of the Chiang Mai Tourism Industry Council; Ritthee Gurusingh, founder of Chiang Mai Wellbeing Social Enterprise and Wellness Hills 1269+; Chef Jeremy Simeon of CHADA; Dr Carlos O. Maidana and Apasara Tawadee Tan, co-founders of Pura Vida; representatives of Chiang Mai Celadon and local creative businesses; and Miltra Mahawan, Managing Director of Amber Circle Co., Ltd.
The Ritual Festival 2026 is organised by Amber Circle Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiang Mai Office; the Chiang Mai Tourism Industry Council; Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co., Ltd.; and Sense Dhara Dhevi Wellness Club.
Speaking at the press conference, Vice Governor Siwa highlighted Chiang Mai’s strengths in culture, traditions, food, creativity and tourism, saying these assets have the potential to be developed into new and memorable experiences for both Thai and international visitors.
He praised the organisers and participating sectors for bringing together art, performance, food, design and local stories through The Ritual: Fire & Shadow.
The charm of Chiang Mai today is not only found in its beautiful attractions or its long cultural history,” he said. “It also lies in its creativity, its people and the experiences that allow visitors to form a deeper connection with the city.”
He added that festivals such as The Ritual can strengthen Chiang Mai’s image as a destination for art, culture, gastronomy and creativity, while supporting quality tourism and creating long-term economic opportunities for local artists, chefs, entrepreneurs and communities.
An Immersive Festival Rooted in Lanna Culture
Miltra Mahawan and Apasara Tawadee Tan of Amber Circle said the festival aims to develop into a world-class immersive cultural festival, presenting Lanna heritage alongside Chiang Mai’s contemporary creative identity.
Its wider mission is to promote sustainable tourism, support local entrepreneurs, strengthen the creative economy and create distinctive experiences for visitors from around the world.
The festival is built around six key objectives: presenting Chiang Mai through contemporary cultural experiences; promoting the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s “5 Must Do in Chiang Mai” — Must Taste, Must Try, Must Buy, Must Seek and Must See; positioning Chiang Mai as an international destination for cultural, wellness and experiential tourism; supporting local artists, performers, chefs, craftspeople and creative businesses; encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors and local communities; and ultimately developing The Ritual into a sustainable annual festival.
A Taste of The Ritual
One of the highlights of the press conference was Taste of The Ritual, offering a preview of the festival’s culinary programme.
Chef Jeremy Simeon introduced the concept of Fire Dining and presented a special charcoal lemon tart combining crisp, sweet and tart flavours, with fire used as part of the final preparation and presentation.
Guests were invited to enjoy the dessert either without additional sugar for a sharper flavour, or with sugar caramelised over the surface for extra sweetness.
Dr Carlos O. Maidana, co-founder of Pura Vida, said the collaboration between Pura Vida and The Ritual reflects a shared belief that modern tourism is about more than visiting a destination.
“It is about experiencing stories, people, art, food, music and culture in ways that create emotion and lasting memories,” he said.
The organisers hope the festival will help position Chiang Mai not simply as a place to visit, but as a destination where travellers come in search of inspiration, meaningful experiences and stories to remember.
The press conference concluded with The First Flame, a fire performance by Phuwadol Malarat, accompanied by a preview of the Flow Arts Workshop by Paradise Pai, giving guests a glimpse of the performances planned for the festival itself.
From Daylight Discovery to The Ritual After Dark
On Saturday, 12th September, areas throughout Dhara Dhevi will be transformed into a journey of discovery, beginning with Daylight Discovery before evolving into The Ritual After Dark.
Daytime activities will include meditation, crystal singing bowl workshops, sound healing, art exhibitions, art and heritage workshops, Afro-animation dance, live folk acoustic sessions and other creative activities.
The Ritual Art Trail will also take participants beyond the festival grounds to discover centuries-old mural paintings at Wat Buak Krok.
Families and children will find entertainment throughout the venue, including roaming performers, balloon activities and a mechanical bull.
The daytime programme begins with an opening ceremony at 9am, followed by meditation from 9.30–10.30am, workshops from 10.30am onwards and a crystal singing bowl session from 11.30am–1pm, with sound healing, dance, live music and other activities continuing throughout the afternoon.
As daylight fades, the festival shifts into The Ritual After Dark.
The evening begins at 6.30pm with a welcome drink featuring Asura by Pura Vida at the Grand Pavilion, followed by a curated Fire Dining Chef’s Table by CHADA from 7–8.30pm, led by Chef Chada and Chef Jeremy, accompanied by live DJ sets.
From 8.30–9.45pm, one of the festival’s major performances, ACT I — THE RUINS, will combine fire, movement, sound, music and the dramatic architecture of the venue to draw audiences into the world of Fire & Shadow.
An intermission, Fire Bubble Experience, follows from 9.45–10.15pm at Sense Dhara Dhevi.
The second act, THE AWAKENING, will take place from 10.15–11pm on the main stage at Sense Wellness Club, bringing the Fire & Shadow journey towards a theme of awakening and transformation.
The night will then continue with a second round of live DJ sets from 11pm–1am.
From the first light of day to fire and shadow after dark, The Ritual: Fire & Shadow Festival 2026 is designed not simply as a performance or festival, but as a journey through art, culture, wellness, gastronomy, music, movement and historic spaces — presenting Chiang Mai through a contemporary and immersive new perspective.
