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🏮 Loy Krathong + Yi Peng · Updated 2026

Loy Krathong & Yi Peng Thailand's Lantern Festivals

Tens of thousands of candle-lit rafts drifting down the rivers, paper lanterns rising one by one until they fill the night sky, and the scent of incense and sweets along the bank — we've gathered everything on Loy Krathong nationwide and Chiang Mai's famous Yi Peng sky lanterns, with 2026 dates, the best spots, how paid and free lantern events differ, and how to do it right, all on one page.

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Loy Krathong Isn't Just One Night —It's the Night Thailand Looks Its Most Beautiful

Picture a whole river glittering with candle flames drifting on the current, people lined up along the bank with hands pressed together in a quiet wish, and then you look up to see paper lanterns rising one after another until they become hundreds of points of light floating off on the breeze — this is Loy Krathong, the festival held on the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month (around November) all across Thailand, to give thanks to and ask forgiveness of the water goddess. Honestly, if you happen to be in Thailand for it, this is the night that will stay with you long after the trip.

What confuses a lot of people is the word Yi Peng — a Lanna (northern Thai) tradition held at the same time as Loy Krathong, but known for releasing sky lanterns (paper lanterns lifted by hot air) into the night, above all in Chiang Mai, which has become the image the whole world pictures when it thinks of a Thai lantern festival. Put simply: krathong float down on the water, sky lanterns go up into the sky, and in Chiang Mai you can see both on the same night. On this page we'll walk through where the festival is held, which dates, how the big paid lantern releases differ from the free public events, and what to bring.

🏮 Straight up, before anything else: almost all of those photos of thousands of lanterns rising together come from separate ticketed events held outside Chiang Mai, with tickets from around 1,000 baht to several thousand baht per person. The events in the city — around the moat, Tha Phae Gate, and along the Ping River — are free public events, but you won't see that mass simultaneous release there. Know this going in and you won't be disappointed.
🪷
Krathong on the Water
Float a raft to thank the water goddess on the full-moon night, nationwide.
🏮
Lanterns in the Sky
Lanna Yi Peng releases paper sky lanterns — Chiang Mai is the famous one.
🌕
Twelfth-Month Full Moon
Tied to the full moon — in 2026 it falls in late November.
🎫
Free vs Paid
City events are free · the big lantern releases need a ticket.
2026 Spots Nationwide

Loy Krathong & Yi Peng,Which City, Which Vibe

The festival is held nationwide on the same night, but each city has its own character. Dates track the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which in 2026 lands around Nov 24; many places run two or three nights around the full moon and dates shift with the lunar calendar, so check each event's schedule first.

SpotRegionCityKnown for2026 window
Yi Peng Chiang Mailanterns + krathongNorthChiang MaiSky lanterns + moat + Ping River~Nov 23–25
Loy Krathong SukhothaiLight & Candle FestivalLower NorthSukhothaiThe original, in the historical park~Nov 22–25
Loy Krathong BangkokChao Phraya riversideCentralBangkokFloating on the Chao Phraya + AsiatiqueNight of Nov 24
Loy Krathong Ayutthayaamong the ruinsCentralAyutthayaFloating among ancient templesNight of Nov 24
Loy Krathong PhuketSaphan HinSouthPhuketFloating by the sea and a lagoonNight of Nov 24
Loy Krathong PattayabaysideEastPattayaFloating by the beach + bayside eventNight of Nov 24
📅 How to read the table: the main event falls on the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which in 2026 lands in late November, nationwide on the same night. For the sky filling with lanterns you'll want to plan for Chiang Mai, and decide ahead whether you'll attend a paid lantern-release show (book tickets months out) or enjoy the free events in town. Book host-city accommodation several months ahead — it sells out fast and prices spike, especially in Chiang Mai and Sukhothai.
6 Spots to See

The Placesto See at Least Once

Picked from the cities travellers agree are worth planning a trip around — each has a sharply different feel. Confirm the schedule, then book a room in that city well ahead.

Thousands of paper sky lanterns rising into the night sky at the Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai 🏮 Chiang Mai · North1
Yi Peng Chiang Mai
Yi Peng · Chiang Mai · November

The image the world pictures when it thinks of a Thai lantern festival. A Lanna tradition held alongside Loy Krathong, in town it centres on the old-town moat, Tha Phae Gate, and the Ping River, with lantern displays, processions, and free krathong floating. The shots of thousands of lanterns rising at once come from separate ticketed shows outside the city — worth knowing the two are different events.

📍Where: Moat & Tha Phae Gate + Ping River (free) · big lantern releases held outside town
🗓️2026 dates: ~Nov 23–25 (check the schedule — the lantern release may be a different night from Loy Krathong)
🎫Free vs paid: city events free · big lantern shows run ฿1,000s per ticket, book ahead
💡Tip: Lanterns may only be released at official times and places; restrictions apply near the airport, so follow each year's announcements.
Chiang Mai Attractions →
🏯 🪷 Sukhothai · Lower North2
Loy Krathong Sukhothai
Sukhothai · Light & Candle Festival · November

Many consider this the "original" Loy Krathong, since the tradition is widely traced to the Sukhothai era. The Light and Candle Festival is held inside Sukhothai Historical Park, among illuminated chedi and ancient ruins, with a sound-and-light show, processions, and krathong floated on the old ponds. The atmosphere is more solemn and classic than anywhere else.

📍Where: Sukhothai Historical Park (old city, ~12 km from new town)
🗓️2026 dates: ~Nov 22–25 · performances run several nights around the full moon
🎟️Tickets: park entry has a fee · some sound-and-light show seats are sold separately
💡Tip: Lodging in the old city is limited and fills fast — book ahead, or stay in the new town and ride in.
Thailand Travel Guide →
Candle-lit krathong rafts floating on the water at night during Loy Krathong 🪷 Bangkok · Central3
Loy Krathong Bangkok
Bangkok · Chao Phraya riverside · November

In Bangkok, Loy Krathong spreads across the piers along the Chao Phraya River, parks with lakes, and riverside malls like Asiatique. Many riverfront hotels and dinner-cruise boats run Loy Krathong packages with city-skyline views — good for anyone who wants a big-city backdrop with the tradition. It's easy to reach by Skytrain and river ferry.

📍Where: Chao Phraya piers · Asiatique · parks with lakes
🗓️2026 dates: night of Nov 24 · people float from early evening into the night
🚆Getting there: BTS/MRT + Chao Phraya river ferry to dodge the festival-night gridlock
💡Tip: The popular piers get packed — go early evening, or pick a smaller pier near where you're staying.
Bangkok Attractions →
🛕 🛕 Ayutthaya · Central4
Loy Krathong Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya · among the ruins · November

Ayutthaya sits on an island ringed by rivers, so on Loy Krathong night there are piers all around the old city and riverside events near the UNESCO-listed temple ruins. Floating a krathong with the silhouette of an ancient chedi behind you is a scene that's hard to find elsewhere. It's close enough to Bangkok for a day trip or an overnight, and pairs neatly with daytime sightseeing among the ruins.

📍Where: Piers around the Ayutthaya island + riverside events near the ruins
🗓️2026 dates: night of Nov 24 · do the ruins by day, then float by night
🚆Getting there: ~1.5 hrs from Bangkok by train, minivan, or car
💡Tip: Rent a bike or scooter to tour the island by day, then find a riverside pier in the evening.
Ayutthaya Travel Guide →
🌊 🌊 Phuket · South5
Loy Krathong Phuket
Phuket · Saphan Hin · November

On Phuket, Loy Krathong centres on Saphan Hin park in Phuket Town, which has a lagoon, along with resort beaches around the island. It's a seaside take on the festival, different from floating on an inland river — and it suits anyone already on the island late in the year, since November is when the Andaman coast moves into its travel season, with clearing skies and seas.

📍Where: Saphan Hin park, Phuket Town + resort beaches
🗓️2026 dates: night of Nov 24 · the municipal event at Saphan Hin is the busiest
🏖️Season: Nov sees the Andaman enter high season — clear seas, great for island days
💡Tip: If floating by the sea, use a natural-material krathong and skip styrofoam — it harms the coast.
Phuket Attractions →
🇹🇭 🇹🇭 Nationwide6
Loy Krathong Nationwide
Nationwide · every province · November

The thing about Loy Krathong is that it's held anywhere there's water — big rivers, canals, lakes, even temple ponds and small neighbourhood parks. You don't need a famous city to take part. A lot of people actually prefer a local community event or one near their hotel, where the crowds are thinner and the mood is more relaxed. If you'd rather skip the crush at the big piers, ask a local where there's an event nearby.

📍Where: Rivers, canals, lakes, temple ponds, and parks across the country
🗓️2026 dates: night of Nov 24, nationwide at the same time
💵Cost: community events are free · buy a krathong on the spot for ฿30–100
💡Tip: A local event has thinner crowds — easier with kids or older travellers than the big piers.
Best Time to Visit Thailand →
What's at the Festival

3 Things You'll Findon a Loy Krathong Night

Each city differs in its backdrop, but these three things are at the heart of almost all of them. Know them and you'll have more fun and understand what's going on around you.

ELEMENT 1
Floating the Krathong

A krathong is a small floating raft made from banana leaves, a banana-trunk base, and flowers, set with incense and a candle. People make a wish to thank and ask forgiveness of the water goddess; some add a fingernail, a strand of hair, or a coin to "float away" the bad of the past year. This is the core of the festival, the same nationwide.

ELEMENT 2
Sky Lanterns & Lantern Displays (Yi Peng)

In the North, especially Chiang Mai, there are sky lanterns (paper lanterns released into the air) and decorative lanterns hung from homes, temples, and streets — the signature of Lanna Yi Peng. Releasing a sky lantern is only allowed in the areas and at the times the authorities permit.

ELEMENT 3
Fair, Processions & Food

Around the event there's usually a Nang Noppamas pageant (a beauty parade), krathong-making contests, folk performances, and rows of food stalls — from Thai sweets to street food, all cheap. Bring cash, since most stalls are cash-only. This is what keeps the whole night buzzing.

Etiquette + Going Green

How to Float a Krathongand Not Harm the River

The festival is open to everyone, so don't feel stiff about it — but a few basics help you take part respectfully and not add to the load on the waterways. Know them and you can relax and enjoy yourself.

🌿
Choose a Natural-Material Krathong
Pick a krathong made of banana leaves, banana trunk, and flowers — it biodegrades. Skip styrofoam ones entirely; they don't break down and pollute the water.
👨‍👩‍👧
Share One Krathong
If you're in a group or family, float a single krathong together to cut the number in the water. Each year municipalities haul hundreds of thousands of them out of the rivers.
🏮
Release Lanterns Only Where Allowed
Sky lanterns carry safety and aviation limits. Release only at the times and places the authorities permit — doing it elsewhere is a fire risk and can be illegal.
🗑️
Take Your Rubbish With You
The nights are crowded and bins fill fast. Carry a small bag for your own trash, don't toss anything into the water, and bin it properly.
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Bring Cash
Krathong stalls, food, and event seating are almost all cash-only. Bring small notes, since vendors often can't change a big bill.
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Allow for Traffic and Crowds
Roads around the piers and events partly close and traffic is heavy. Leave extra time, use public transport where you can, and follow the staff directing the queues.
Map

Loy Krathong & Yi Peng Spotson One Map

See where the festival spreads out — from Chiang Mai and Sukhothai in the north, to Bangkok and Ayutthaya in the centre, all the way to Phuket and Pattaya. Plot your November trip from right here.

Prep + Booking

6 Things That Make a Loy Krathong TripFun and Hassle-Free

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Book Months Ahead
Host cities for the big events (Chiang Mai, Sukhothai) sell out and prices spike during the festival. Book 3–6 months out, especially Chiang Mai for Yi Peng.
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Decide on the Lantern Release
The big paid lantern shows need tickets months ahead and usually sell out fast. If you don't book one, enjoy the free events in town instead.
🗓️
Confirm the Date on a Thai Calendar
The date tracks the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month, so it shifts each year. Confirm the exact date and each event's schedule before locking in flights.
✈️
Chiang Mai Flights May Shift
During the festival, lantern releases are restricted near Chiang Mai Airport and some flights are rescheduled. Check your flight times before you travel.
📶
Activate an eSIM Before You Fly
Handy for checking event schedules, navigating with Google Maps, and finding good spots, since festival road closures shift the routes.
🌧️
Pack for the End of the Rains
November in the north turns cool and pleasant, but some evenings still see light rain. Bring a light windbreaker and an umbrella just in case.
Related Guides

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🏯

Chiang Mai Attractions

The home of Yi Peng — old-town temples, Doi Suthep, and the Chiang Mai corners you can't miss during the lantern festival.

Chiang Mai Attractions →
🧭

Chiang Mai First-Timer Guide

First time in Chiang Mai for Yi Peng — which area to stay in, how to get around, and how many days you really need.

Chiang Mai Guide →
📅

Chiang Mai Best Time to Visit

November is Yi Peng season and Chiang Mai's finest weather — see month by month when to come.

Best Time →
💦

Songkran Guide

Thailand's other great festival — the April water festival: where to play, the dates, and how to prepare.

Songkran Guide →
🇹🇭

Full Thailand Travel Guide

Every region and city, with links into city guides, hotels, and attractions across Thailand.

Thailand Guide →
📶

Thailand eSIM & SIM Guide

Staying connected — eSIM vs an airport SIM, which to pick, how to install one, before you fly.

eSIM Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions AboutLoy Krathong & Yi Peng

What's the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Loy Krathong is the nationwide tradition of floating a decorated raft (a krathong) on the water on the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month (around November), to give thanks and ask forgiveness of the water goddess. Yi Peng is a Lanna (northern Thai) tradition held at the same time, known for releasing sky lanterns (paper lanterns) into the air, especially in Chiang Mai. In short: krathong float down on the water, sky lanterns go up into the sky, and in Chiang Mai you can see both on the same night.
What are the 2026 dates for Loy Krathong?
Loy Krathong falls on the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai lunar month, which in 2026 lands in late November (around November 24, 2026 — confirm the exact date against a Thai lunar calendar, since it tracks the full moon). Many cities run the festival over two or three nights around the full moon. Yi Peng in Chiang Mai is held at the same time, but some events — and the big paid lantern-release shows — may fall on a different night from the actual Loy Krathong date, so check each event's schedule.
Where can I see the Yi Peng sky lanterns in Chiang Mai?
The images of thousands of lanterns rising together that you see online come almost entirely from separate ticketed events held outside the city, with tickets running from around 1,000 baht to several thousand baht per person. In the city itself — around the old-town moat, Tha Phae Gate, and along the Ping River — there are free public events with decorated lanterns, processions, and a scattering of people releasing their own lanterns. The atmosphere is lovely, but it isn't the mass simultaneous release.
What is a krathong made of, and is it eco-friendly?
A traditional krathong is made from banana leaves, a banana-trunk base, and flowers, all of which are biodegradable and the most environmentally friendly choice. Avoid styrofoam krathong — they don't break down and pollute the water. Some places use bread-based krathong that fish can eat, but if too many people float them at once they can foul the water too. Every year municipalities pull hundreds of thousands of krathong out of the rivers the next morning, so the best approach is to share one small krathong between several people and choose natural materials.
Is releasing a sky lantern legal?
Sky lanterns come with real safety and aviation restrictions, especially near Chiang Mai Airport. During the festival the civil aviation authority usually announces limits on when and where lanterns may be released, and some flights have to be rescheduled. You can only release lanterns at the times and in the areas the authorities permit — releasing one outside those zones can be illegal and a fire risk. Follow each year's official announcements and release lanterns only at properly organised events.
Can foreign visitors join in, and what should I bring?
Yes, very easily. Most public events are free to attend, and you can buy a krathong on the spot for around 30–100 baht. Bring cash, since stalls and vendors are mostly cash-only. The festival nights are crowded and traffic is heavy, so allow extra travel time and book accommodation in Chiang Mai months ahead — it sells out fast and prices spike. If you want to attend one of the big paid lantern-release shows, book those tickets months in advance too.
Ready to Float a Krathong?

Pick the Right City
and Book Before It Fills Up

Lock in the festival night that matches your trip, open the Chiang Mai guide for hotels, sights, and how to get around, or start hunting early for a room near the river and the moat — before the rooms run out and prices spike for Yi Peng.

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