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The dry season on Koh Rong begins in November, and with it the best time for one of the island's main attractions: bioluminescent plankton. The glow comes from microscopic dinoflagellates that light up when the water moves, and it is easiest to see on the darkest nights. This season the new moons fall on 10 October, 9 November and 9 December 2026 (Cambodian time), so the few nights around these dates are ideal. Go after about 7 pm and away from resort lights: evening boat tours from Koh Touch (typically $20-30) end with a swim in a dark bay, and at remote Lonely Beach the glow can often be seen right from the shore. Never swim alone at night. More in our new guide: Bioluminescent plankton on Koh Rong.

On 8 August 2026, Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism and the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration launched a push to turn the island city of Koh Rong into a certified smoke-free tourism destination by the end of 2026. The plan, led by Secretary of State Hor Sarun, focuses on training local authorities, stricter enforcement of the existing tobacco control law and raising awareness among hotels, restaurants and bars. Around 100 officials and business representatives attended the opening workshop. Kampot became Cambodia's first official smoke-free tourism city in 2023, followed by Battambang, Kampong Cham and others. For visitors this means more smoke-free ferry terminals, boats, hotel lobbies and restaurant terraces. The change is gradual, so smokers should look out for designated smoking areas.

On 14 September 2026, Tourism Minister Huot Hak and Preah Sihanouk Governor Mang Sineth launched the province's Tourism Development Plan 2026-2030. It aims to turn the province, which includes Sihanoukville and Koh Rong, into a high-quality destination for both leisure and business travel, with new tourism products and better service quality, cleanliness and safety. For Koh Rong, the plan focuses on ecotourism, luxury and wellness. Foreign arrivals in Preah Sihanouk grew by 30% in 2025 to 415,459 and rose by a further 17.8% in the first quarter of 2026.

On 11 April 2026, Electricité du Cambodge (EDC) started supplying power through a new 35 kV line from Koh Rong to the neighboring island of Koh Rong Sanloem. The line combines a submarine cable with overhead and underground sections. Koh Rong itself has been on the national grid since 2023, and Koh Rong Sanloem, which until now relied largely on generators and solar power, can now draw electricity from the mainland too. Short outages can still happen on both islands, so a power bank is still useful. EDC has asked residents and travelers to keep a safe distance from all parts of the line.