Loy Krathong and Yi Peng 2026: Dates, Chiang Mai and Phuket
On one night each November, Thailand turns to the water for Loy Krathong. Under the full moon of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, people of every age gather at rivers, lakes, canals and beaches to float a krathong and make a wish.
In 2026, Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November. In Chiang Mai, the celebration runs over three nights, from 23 to 25 November, as it meets Yi Peng, the northern festival of light.
This guide covers what the two festivals mean, how they’re celebrated, the Chiang Mai programme night by night, and where to float a krathong in Phuket.
Two festivals, one full moon
Loy Krathong is celebrated across Thailand. Loy means to float, and a krathong is the small float itself. The festival gives thanks to Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of water, and asks forgiveness for the ways people have used and polluted rivers through the year.
Yi Peng belongs to the north. It comes from the old Lanna kingdom, which ruled northern Thailand from Chiang Mai for centuries. In the Lanna calendar, the twelfth Thai month is the second month, and yi peng means the full moon of the second month. It’s a festival of light, celebrated with lanterns hung at homes and temples and with paper lanterns released into the sky.
Because both festivals share the same full moon, Chiang Mai celebrates them together, and the city becomes one of the busiest places in the country for those few days.
Loy Krathong across Thailand
A traditional krathong is made from a slice of banana trunk, wrapped and folded with banana leaves, and decorated with flowers. A candle and 3 incense sticks are set in the centre. Many people add a coin, a strand of hair or a nail clipping, a way of letting go of bad luck and the year behind them.
After dark, people light the candle, make a wish and place the krathong gently on the water. Couples often float one together. Families come with children, and temples, parks and lakeside spaces fill with stalls, music and food.
The old capital of Sukhothai, home to a UNESCO listed historical park of 13th century temples, holds one of the country’s oldest celebrations, with candlelit ruins and traditional performances. Bangkok’s riverbanks along the Chao Phraya fill with crowds, and smaller towns have their own local fairs and krathong contests.
Yi Peng in Chiang Mai
Yi Peng is known for khom loi, paper sky lanterns lifted by the heat of a small flame. Releasing one is said to carry your bad luck away, and the sight of thousands of lanterns drifting over the city is what draws many travellers north each year.
The festival is also about light on the ground. Temples and houses hang khom kwaen and khom thue, decorative Lanna lanterns made of paper and bamboo, and the old city’s lanes and gates glow with candles and lamps throughout the festival.
Three nights in Chiang Mai
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday 23 November | Lanterns go up across the old city and its temples. Candlelit ceremonies begin at temples such as Wat Phan Tao, and krathong floating starts along the Ping River. |
| Tuesday 24 November | Full moon night, with the main lantern releases and krathong floating at the river. |
| Wednesday 25 November | The grand procession of illuminated floats and giant krathong moves through the old city and closes the festival. |
Tha Phae Gate, the main surviving gate of the old city walls, is the centre of activity. The Ping River between Nawarat Bridge and the Iron Bridge is the most popular stretch for floating krathong. Wat Phan Tao, a teak temple beside the larger Wat Chedi Luang, is lit with candles and lanterns and is one of the calmest places in the old city on festival nights.
Chiang Mai fills up for the festival, and room rates rise sharply. Book accommodation and flights early. Flight schedules at Chiang Mai airport are often adjusted on lantern nights, so check your flight times close to departure.
Celebrate gently
Large lantern releases are ticketed events held outside the city, in districts such as Mae Jo and Doi Saket, where thousands of lanterns are released together under safety controls. Tickets usually cost several thousand baht and sell out well before the festival.
In town, releases are limited to set zones and times, and rules are set by local authorities each year. In recent years they have included no lantern zones around the airport and heavy penalties for releasing lanterns in restricted areas, so check the current rules when you arrive.
- Choose a krathong made of banana trunk or bread, which the river carries away gently. Bread krathong are eaten by fish.
- Avoid foam and plastic floats, which stay in the water long after the night is over.
- Keep candles and lanterns well away from trees, roofs and power lines.
- Be patient at the riverbanks. Steps can be crowded and slippery after dark.
Loy Krathong in Phuket
Phuket celebrates on the water. Saphan Hin Park, a seafront park on the edge of Phuket Town, hosts the main local gathering, with a fair and krathong competitions. Nai Harn Lake in the south of the island fills with families floating krathong as the full moon rises over the Andaman Sea.
Patong Beach, Karon and Rawai also draw crowds. Celebrations begin after sunset and are busiest from around 8pm to 10pm. Simple krathong are sold at stalls near each spot, usually for 40 to 100 baht.
Sky lanterns are banned around Phuket airport for aircraft safety, so the focus on the island stays on krathong, candles and the moon.
Common questions about Loy Krathong and Yi Peng
When is Loy Krathong in 2026?
Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026. In Chiang Mai, the combined Yi Peng and Loy Krathong celebrations run from 23 to 25 November.
What is the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Loy Krathong is a national festival of floating krathong on water. Yi Peng is the northern Lanna festival of light, celebrated with lanterns. They share the same full moon, so Chiang Mai celebrates both together.
Can I release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai?
Releases are limited to set zones, times and ticketed events, and the rules change each year. Check the current rules before you buy a lantern.
Where can I celebrate Loy Krathong in Phuket?
Saphan Hin Park and Nai Harn Lake are the main family spots. Patong Beach, Karon and Rawai Pier are also popular.
What should my krathong be made of?
Choose banana trunk, banana leaves, flowers or bread. These break down naturally in the water.
