Angkor Wat Equinox ran from 21 to 23 September 2026
Published on 09/27/2026 at 15:24 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Angkor Wat hosted the Angkor Wat Equinox from 21 to 23 September 2026 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, bringing visitors to the temple for a sunrise alignment with its central tower. The event took place during the autumn equinox period, when the rising sun appears above the temple from the western side.
Angkor Wat Equinox ran through 23 September 2026
The three-day programme began on 21 September and ended on 23 September 2026. The event listing describes the Angkor equinox as a twice-yearly occurrence, with the sun aligning with the central tower during the spring and autumn equinox periods.
The event was also linked to an Angkor Equinox Run in Siem Reap on 21 September 2026. Cambodianess reported that runners gathered at the Preah Reach Damnak Stone Bridge before continuing towards the Angkor area for sunrise. The report placed the run alongside the wider equinox programme rather than presenting it as a separate temple opening.
The event listing for 21 to 23 September names Angkor Wat as the venue and gives the first and last day of the programme. A separate report described the Siem Reap administration as preparing for the same three-day period.
The sunrise event reflects Angkor Wat's architectural design
The alignment connects the temporary event to the temple's west-facing approach and its central tower. From the western side, the rising sun appears behind the sanctuary, placing the morning phenomenon against the building's five-tower composition.
Angkor Wat forms part of the wider Angkor Archaeological Park in northern Cambodia. The temple was built in the twelfth century during the Khmer Empire, while the surrounding archaeological site contains remains from capitals dating from the ninth to the fifteenth century.
UNESCO describes Angkor as extending over approximately 400 square kilometres, including forests, temples, hydraulic structures and historic routes. Its World Heritage description also identifies Angkor Wat, Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm among the site's major monuments. The UNESCO description of Angkor records the site's scale, history and protected status.
Visiting Angkor Wat: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Angkor Wat Equinox ran from 21 to 23 September 2026, with the sunrise alignment viewed from the western side of the temple.
- The programme has ended, so travellers arriving after 23 September 2026 will not find the three-day equinox event in progress.
- Angkor Wat is in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap in Cambodia. The wider site includes temples, reservoirs, canals and historic routes.
- The visitor setting includes open ground, stone approaches, galleries and uneven historic surfaces. The sunrise viewpoint relates specifically to the western approach and the central tower.
- Cambodia's official language is Khmer and its national currency is the riel.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Angkor Wat on social platforms
These links open searches for Angkor Wat on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Angkor Wat
When did the Angkor Wat Equinox take place?
The Angkor Wat Equinox ran from 21 to 23 September 2026 at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. The programme centred on the September sunrise alignment with the central tower.
What is Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat is a twelfth-century temple within the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor.
Where is Angkor Wat and how do you get there?
Angkor Wat is near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia. It stands within the wider Angkor Archaeological Park, which includes temples, waterworks and historic routes.
