Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On the morning of February 14, 2026, the 19th Lao Elephant Festival officially opened at the Xayaburi Provincial Government Hall. A total of 50 elephants are participating in this year's event.
At the ceremony, Ame Sonyelun, Vice Chairman of the Xayaburi Provincial Administrative Committee and Vice Chairman of the 19th Lao Elephant Festival, reported on the preparations for this year's festival. He stated that the festival aims to continuously protect Lao elephants as a national heritage and a symbol of urban and rural life, and to preserve the culture, traditions, and lifestyles of the people of Xayaburi Province who have been closely connected with elephants since ancient times.
At the same time, the event creates breeding opportunities for the 50 elephants gathered throughout the province, contributing to elephant conservation efforts; it also provides a platform for showcasing elephant management skills and exchanging experiences among elephant herders, promoting the intergenerational transmission of the elephant husbandry profession, and offering tourists opportunities to experience and learn about elephant life.
This year's festival focuses on elephants and elephant conservation, with a highlight being the Kankel elephant performance. The event boasts a rich array of activities. The expo, which kicked off on February 9th, features 324 booths showcasing specialty products, agricultural products, handicrafts, and processed goods from 11 cities and districts in Xayaburi province, as well as domestic and international public and private enterprises and village representatives. The expo embodies the "one city, one product" concept, highlighting the local industry's development potential and achievements.
Following the opening ceremony, the event will continue, offering visitors opportunities to watch elephant shows, experience elephant riding, tour the expo, enjoy cultural performances from across the province, visit the Asian Elephant Conservation and Breeding Center (Pukhane), and explore various attractions in Xayaburi's capital city.
