The 2025 SEA Games (, , ), officially called the 33rd SEA Games (, , ) was an international multi-sport event sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF). The event took place in December 2025 from 9 to 20 December and was held across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, as well as in the Chonburi province in Thailand.
The joint bid from the three provinces was awarded hosting rights of the Games on 13 January 2023 after Thailand was confirmed as the host country by the Southeast Asian Games Federation. This marked the first time that host cities were selected through a new bidding and election process for the SEA Games.
The 2025 SEA Games also marked the seventh time Thailand hosted the event. Co-host city Bangkok previously hosted four times (1959, 1967, 1975, and 1985), Chiang Mai hosted the 1995 edition, and Nakhon Ratchasima hosted the 2007 edition.
The original co-host Songkhla province was planned to host some events until flooding caused by Cyclone Senyar struck shortly before the Games, resulting in all events that were to be held in Songkhla eventually being relocated to venues in Bangkok and Chonburi.
Development and preparations Host selection Hosting duties are rotated among the member countries of the SEA Games Federation. Each member country is assigned a specific year to host the event, but they have the option to withdraw or opt out of hosting for that particular edition.
2019 disruption On the 21st of July in 2017, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced its decision to withdraw support for the country's hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. The government chose to reallocate funds originally intended for the event to support the rehabilitation of Marawi, which had been devastated by the Marawi crisis. Additionally, it was later reported that the Philippine Olympic Committee's insistence on handling all aspects of the hosting—including finances, security, and the organization of the Games, similar to how it managed the 2005 SEA Games—contributed to the PSC's decision to withdraw its support.
On the 10th of August in 2017, Charouck Arirachakaran, the Vice President and Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, stated that Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had agreed to a replacement plan for the 2019 SEA Games following the Philippines' withdrawal. The potential host provinces for the event were Chiang Mai, Chonburi, and Songkhla.
However, six days later, Philippine Olympic Committee President Peping Cojuangco confirmed that it would still host the 2019 SEA Games. This decision came after Cojuangco wrote to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, appealing for reconsideration of the country's earlier withdrawal.
2025 confirmation In December 2021, Thailand was nominated as the host country for the 2025 SEA Games during the SEAGF Council and Executive Board Meetings held in Hanoi, Vietnam. Five months later, the SEAGF Council and executive board officially confirmed Thailand as the host for the 2025 SEA Games, with Bangkok initially nominated as the host city. Additionally, Malaysia and Singapore were confirmed as the host countries for the 2027 and 2029 editions of the SEA Games, respectively.
After the confirmation, this marked the seventh time that Thailand had hosted the SEA Games. The capital city, Bangkok, hosted the inaugural SEAP Games—the original term for the SEA Games—in 1959, and subsequently in 1967 and 1975, as well as in 1985 after the event had become known as the SEA Games. The 1995 and 2007 editions were held in the Thai provinces of Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima, respectively.
Bidding and election
On the 11th of October in 2022, Chaipak Siriwat, the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, revealed the framework for the bidding process for the 2025 SEA Games. He emphasized that the host cities or provinces should aim to organize the Games at a budget-friendly cost and that there would be no requirement to build new venues. Unlike the 2019 and 2021 editions where competition venues were spread across 23 and 12 cities respectively, the number of host cities for the 2025 Games would be limited to 3 or 4.
In October 2022 Vice Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand Prachum Boontiem nominated eight bidding parties from twelve cities or provinces interested in hosting the 2025 SEA Games. The city of Bangkok as well as the provinces of Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Songkhla submitted sole bids, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Chonburi, Songkhla, Krabi, Phuket, Trat, Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon were proposed as potential bidding provinces.
Although the official bidding process began in October 2022, some regions had already revealed their bidding campaigns earlier: Ubon Ratchathani in April 2016; Chonburi in January 2019; and Krabi, Phuket, and Trang in February 2021.
On the 13th of January in 2023, the Sports Authority of Thailand selected three provinces—Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Chonburi province, and Songkhla province—to host the 33rd SEA Games, while the Nakhon Ratchasima province was chosen to host the 13th ASEAN Para Games. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of Thailand in February 2023. These four cities were the first in SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games history to be chosen through a bidding process.
+ Bidding Parties for 33rd SEA Games and 13th ASEAN Para Games Individual City Bids (4) Joint Province Bids (4) Bangkok Chiang Mai Nakhon Ratchasima (13th ASEAN Para Games) Songkhla Bangkok and Chonburi Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla (33rd SEA Games) Krabi, Phuket and Trang Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon
Host city contract During the first SEAGF council meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in June 2024, the host city contract was signed by Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, Thawatchai Srithong, the Governor of Chonburi province, and Somnuek Promkhieo, the Governor of Songkhla province. The ceremony followed the model of the Olympic and Asian Games host city agreements, marking the first time a SEA Games host city contract had been signed.
Handover ceremony The handover ceremony of the SEAGF flag and the artistic performance for the 2025 SEA Games took place during the closing ceremony of the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the 17th of May in 2023 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
The artistic performance for this segment, titled Sawasdee SEA Games, meaning Hello SEA Games in Thai, was performed by Kid Buaksib, a contemporary Thai dancer and artist. They were a finalist in seasons 1 and 2 of Thailand's Got Talent.
Kick-off ceremony The kick-off ceremony for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games was held at the Hua Mak Sports Complex in Bangkok on the 7th of December in 2024.
Sorawong Thienthong, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Minister of Tourism and Sports, announced that the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games would be held under the themes of Green SEA Games and Sustainable Paralympics. The games aimed to achieve net-zero emissions by promoting eco-friendly transportation, utilizing sustainable products, and selecting venues that prioritized environmental protection. This environmentally friendly vision would also be implemented in the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship held in August 2025.
Venues The 2025 SEA Games utilized existing venues across Bangkok Metropolitan Region and Chonburi province, including those used by the 1985 SEA Games, the 1998 Asian Games, and the 2007 Summer Universiade previously held in Bangkok Metropolitan Region.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Region, which includes the city Bangkok and the neighboring provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon, hosted the majority of the 42 sports. Meanwhile, Chonburi hosted 15 sports on its own. Only three events took place in outlying venues: men's football preliminaries held in Chiang Mai, skeet shooting in Ratchaburi, and road bicycle racing in Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi.
Originally, Songkhla province was intended to host 10 events; however, due to flooding as a result of Cyclone Senyar in late November 2025, it was ultimately decided to move those events to the remaining venues. It was also reported that Thailand would consider how to compensate the participating nations, as some competitors had already booked flights and accommodation in Songkhla. The original intended venues for the events intended for Songkhla (and other moved events) are denoted in the footnotes for this section.
Bangkok cluster