Loy Krathong is the night when people across Thailand float small decorated offerings on rivers, lakes and canals, each one carrying a candle and incense. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday 24 November, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. In Chiang Mai the same nights are also Yi Peng, when sky lanterns are released at set times and places.
Dates were checked in September 2026. Most local organisers publish their programmes only one to two months ahead, so confirm the details with the organiser before you book travel.
Loy Krathong Dates at a Glance
The date follows the Thai lunar calendar, so it moves every year.
| Year | Loy Krathong | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 November | Past festival |
| 2026 | Tuesday 24 November | 15th waxing day of the 12th lunar month |
| 2027 | 13 November (expected) | Not yet officially announced |
In Chiang Mai, the main Yi Peng and Loy Krathong nights in 2026 are 24 and 25 November. Travel guides give the wider festival window as 23–25 or 24–26 November. The city has not yet published its official programme.
Understanding Loy Krathong
The Meaning Behind the Festival
The name describes the ritual. Loy means "to float", and a krathong is the small floating offering. A traditional krathong is made of a slice of banana trunk, folded banana leaves and flowers, with a candle and incense sticks on top.
Thais traditionally float a krathong to thank the goddess of water and to ask forgiveness for the ways people use and pollute the water. Many people also see it as a way to let go of bad luck and bad feelings and to make a wish for the year ahead.
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng
Yi Peng is the northern Thai (Lanna) lantern festival, and Chiang Mai celebrates it on the same nights as Loy Krathong. In Chiang Mai, people float krathongs on the Ping River and also release khom loi, paper sky lanterns. Lantern releases are now tightly controlled; the rules are explained below.
Best Places to Celebrate Loy Krathong
The dates below are from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) calendar for 2025. They show the usual pattern. The 2026 dates had not been announced when this guide was checked.
| Place | 2025 festival dates | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|
| Sukhothai Historical Park | 27 October–5 November | Candle festival among old temple ruins |
| Tak | 2–5 November | Coconut-shell krathongs on the Ping River |
| Ayutthaya (Wat Phra Ram) | 2–6 November | Maha Loi Krathong in the historical park |
| Bangkok | 3–5 November | River festival at 9 piers |
| Phitsanulok | 3–5 November | Provincial festival |
| Lampang | 4–6 November | Provincial festival |
| Samut Songkhram (Mae Klong) | 4–6 November | Krathongs made from banana trunks |
Sukhothai Historical Park
Popular tradition links Loy Krathong to Sukhothai, an old royal capital, and the celebration there lasts many days. In 2025 the Sukhothai Loi Krathong and Candle Festival ran for 10 days, from 27 October to 5 November, in the Sukhothai Historical Park. Each night there was a candle tribute at 21:21. Check the 2026 programme for the evening shows and events, because they change from year to year.
There is no fixed Smile Taxi fare to Sukhothai. For a private transfer, ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE. For other ways to travel, see our guide on how to get from Bangkok to Sukhothai.
Chiang Mai (Yi Peng)
Chiang Mai combines krathongs on the water with lanterns in the sky. You do not need a ticket to enjoy the festival in the city. These places are free:
- The Ping River between the Iron Bridge and Nakorn Ping Bridge
- Nawarat Bridge
- Tha Phae Gate, with a parade and stage shows in the early evening
- The moat around the Old City
- Temples such as Wat Phan Tao
Mass sky-lantern releases take place outside the city and need a ticket (see the next section). For travel from Bangkok, see our guide on how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Bangkok
In 2025 the Bangkok River Festival ran from 3 to 5 November at 9 piers along the Chao Phraya River, including Wat Pho, Wat Arun and ICONSIAM. The riverside piers get crowded on the night, so arrive early and agree a meeting point with your group.
Ayutthaya
In 2025 the Maha Loi Krathong festival took place from 2 to 6 November at Wat Phra Ram in the Ayutthaya Historical Park. Here you can float a krathong near old temple ruins. See our guide on how to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
Yi Peng Sky Lanterns: Rules, Tickets and Flights
Where and When Lanterns Are Allowed
Sky lanterns may not be released inside Chiang Mai city limits or near airport flight paths. Breaking this rule can lead to fines and possibly jail. Release a lantern only at the times and places the authorities announce.
In 2025 the official window in Chiang Mai and Lamphun was 19:00 to 01:00 on the festival nights, 5 and 6 November. Smoke lanterns were allowed only on 5 November, from 10:00 to 12:00. Expect similar rules in 2026, and check the official announcement before the festival.
Ticketed Lantern Events
The mass lantern releases seen in many photographs are ticketed events held outside the city. Examples include the CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival in Mae On district and Yee Peng Lanna International near Mae Jo University.
- The large events cost about 4,800–15,900 THB, depending on the seat tier and whether transport is included.
- Cheaper events cost about 2,500–4,900 THB.
- Watching the festival in the city is free.
These prices were checked in September 2026. Check what a ticket includes before you pay.
Flights on Festival Nights
In 2025 Chiang Mai airport changed its schedule for Yi Peng and ended all flights by 19:00 on 5 and 6 November. In total, 161 flights were affected: 65 were cancelled and 96 were rescheduled.
If you fly to or from Chiang Mai around the festival, choose a flight that lands or leaves before 19:00, and check with your airline in the days before you travel.
Making or Buying an Eco-Friendly Krathong
Buy or make a krathong made of natural materials:
- A slice of banana trunk as the base
- Banana leaves, folded into a decorative border
- Fresh flowers, a candle and incense sticks
Avoid styrofoam krathongs. They do not break down and stay in the water long after the festival. Carry small notes for krathong stalls, food vendors and temple donations.
Etiquette and Safety
Respect at Temples and Ceremonies
- Cover your shoulders and knees for temple ceremonies.
- Take off your shoes before you enter a temple hall.
- Do not point your feet at Buddha images or monks.
- Women should not touch monks or hand things directly to them.
- Ask before you photograph people, especially during religious rituals.
Crowds and Water
- Riverbanks and piers get very crowded. Keep children close and stay back from the edge.
- Roads close for parades and processions. Allow extra travel time, and agree a pickup point away from the route.
Photography and Drones
Thai rules allow drone flights in daylight only. Every drone must be registered with the NBTC. A drone with a camera or over 2 kg must also be registered with CAAT. You also need third-party insurance of at least 1 million THB, a pilot certificate and flight approval 3 days before you fly. Penalties go up to a fine of 40,000 THB, 1 year in prison, or both. For a night festival, leave the drone at home.
Emergency Numbers
- Tourist Police: 1155 (24 hours, several languages)
- Ambulance and medical emergencies: 1669
- Police: 191
- TAT Call Centre: 1672
Save these numbers in your phone before the festival.
Getting There by Private Transfer
Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included. A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 and 4, and a van up to 7 and 5.
| Route | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok → Ayutthaya | 1,500 THB | 1,700 THB | 2,000 THB |
| Ayutthaya → Bangkok | 1,200 THB | 1,500 THB | 2,000 THB |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport → Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport → Chiang Mai | 7,500 THB | 8,500 THB | 10,000 THB |
- Book a sedan from Bangkok to Ayutthaya for the Maha Loi Krathong festival.
- Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time.
- If you would rather avoid festival-night flights, you can travel by road: book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai.
- To combine a day of sightseeing with the evening river festival in Bangkok, the full-day Bangkok Tour (up to 10 hours) costs 2,700 THB by sedan, 3,000 THB by SUV, 3,700 THB by van or 4,000 THB by VIP van. See tours and day trips.
- For Sukhothai, Tak, Phitsanulok, Lampang or Samut Songkhram, there is no fixed fare: ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE.
You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; there is no online payment and no deposit. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). See all routes and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Loy Krathong in 2026?
Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. Chiang Mai's main Yi Peng nights are 24 and 25 November.
Can I release a sky lantern anywhere in Chiang Mai?
No. Lanterns are banned inside the city limits and near flight paths. Release them only at the announced times and places; in 2025 the window was 19:00 to 01:00 on the festival nights.
Will Yi Peng affect my flight?
Possibly. In 2025 Chiang Mai airport stopped flights at 19:00 on the festival nights, and 161 flights were cancelled or rescheduled. Check with your airline before you travel.
How much are Yi Peng lantern event tickets?
About 4,800–15,900 THB for the large ticketed releases, or about 2,500–4,900 THB for cheaper events. Watching in the city is free.
What should my krathong be made of?
Natural materials such as banana trunk, banana leaves and flowers. Avoid styrofoam, which stays in the water.
To book a transfer to a Loy Krathong celebration, or to ask for a quote, message us on WhatsApp or LINE.