When are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng? Important Dates for Your Thailand Trip

Every year, thousands of travellers try to time their Thailand trip around Loy Krathong and Yi Peng — and every year, some of them get the dates wrong. The confusion is understandable: these are lunar calendar festivals, the dates shift annually, and the two festivals overlap but are not the same thing. In 2026, the timing falls in a particularly good window, but only if you book early. Hotel prices in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng 2025 hit their highest point in five years, and 2026 is expected to be no different.

2026 Confirmed Dates for Loy Krathong and Yi Peng

In 2026, Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday, 3 November. This is the main national festival celebrated across Thailand. The celebration centres on the evening and night of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month.

Yi Peng, the northern sky lantern festival unique to Chiang Mai and parts of northern Thailand, coincides with the same full moon. The Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai runs from 2–4 November 2026, with the peak night — the mass sky lantern release — happening on the evening of 3 November.

One important distinction for 2026 planning: the large-scale organised lantern release events in Chiang Mai (held at venues outside the city) typically announce their specific dates and ticket sales 6–8 weeks before the festival. If you are targeting one of these ticketed events rather than the general public celebrations in the Old City moat area, watch the official Chiang Mai event announcements from September 2026 onward.

What Actually Happens on Each Night

Loy Krathong — Floating Offerings Across Thailand

Loy Krathong is a water festival, not a fire festival. The name means “to float a basket” — loy means to float, krathong refers to the small decorated vessel. On the night of the full moon, people across Thailand carry their krathong to the nearest river, canal, lake, or coastline and set it on the water.

A krathong is traditionally made from a slice of banana trunk, decorated with folded banana leaves, flowers (usually white jasmine and yellow marigolds), incense sticks, and a candle. As it drifts away on the dark water, you watch the small flame flickering against the reflections of hundreds of other candles floating alongside it — the smell of jasmine and incense mixing with the cool night air near the river. The act carries the symbolic weight of releasing grudges, bad luck, and troubles into the water.

In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River becomes the focal point. In Sukhothai, the historical park floods its ancient ruins and becomes one of the most atmospheric settings in the country for this festival. In Chiang Mai, the Ping River hosts floating krathong at the same time the sky fills with lanterns above.

Yi Peng — The Sky Lantern Tradition of the North

Yi Peng is a northern Thai (Lanna) tradition that does not exist in the same form in the rest of Thailand. On the same full moon night, people release khom loi — large paper lanterns filled with hot air from a small burning fuel cell. When you release one, it pulls upward slowly at first, then catches a thermal and climbs fast into the black sky. At peak release time in Chiang Mai’s Old City, thousands of lanterns rise simultaneously, turning the sky orange and gold. It is genuinely one of the most visually overwhelming experiences in Southeast Asia.

Yi Peng has a Buddhist significance in northern tradition — the lanterns carry prayers and misfortune upward and away. The festival spans several days, with temple ceremonies, decorated streets, and parades alongside the lantern releases.

How the Lunar Calendar Determines the Dates Each Year

Both festivals are tied to the full moon of the twelfth month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (not the twelfth month of the Gregorian year). This is why the Gregorian date shifts every year — usually landing somewhere between late October and late November.

Here is how the recent pattern looks:

• 2024: 15 November
• 2025: 5 November
• 2026: 3 November
• 2027: 22 November (approximate — confirm closer to the date)

The practical implication: do not assume the festival is always in mid-November. In 2026, early November is the target. If you are planning a trip for November thinking you will catch the lanterns “at some point,” you may arrive after the festival has ended. The actual floating and lantern release is concentrated into one to two nights around the full moon, not spread across the whole month.

Where in Thailand Each Festival Is Celebrated Differently

Chiang Mai

The only place in Thailand where you get both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng simultaneously. The Old City moat is filled with krathong while the sky above is lit with khom loi. The Ping River hosts organised lantern release spots. This is the most internationally famous location for both festivals combined, which also means it is the most crowded.

Sukhothai

The historical park in Sukhothai hosts what many Thais consider the most beautiful and most traditional Loy Krathong celebration in the country. The ancient temples and ruins are illuminated, the ponds and moats around the historical monuments are filled with floating krathong, and the scale of the light show against 700-year-old Khmer-influenced towers is unlike anything in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. There are no sky lanterns here — this is purely a Loy Krathong experience. Sukhothai is a good choice for travellers who want atmosphere without the extreme Chiang Mai crowds.

Bangkok

The Chao Phraya River hosts large-scale floating, with major activity around Asiatique, Wat Arun, and the central piers. Bangkok’s celebration is festive and accessible but less intimate than smaller cities. The 2026 riverside development around Charoennakorn (near ICONSIAM) has expanded the public floating areas significantly compared to previous years.

Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son

Both observe Yi Peng with lantern releases, but on a smaller, more local scale. For travellers who want the sky lantern experience without the Chiang Mai hotel prices and crowd density, Mae Hong Son in particular offers a genuine, quieter version of the northern tradition.

Planning Your Trip Around the Crowds and Weather

Early November in Thailand sits at the tail end of the wet season in most of the country, with the north transitioning into dry season. In practice, Chiang Mai in early November 2026 is likely to have comfortable temperatures (23–28°C during the day, cooler at night) and mostly clear skies — ideal for lantern watching.

The crowd reality is significant. Chiang Mai’s Old City during Yi Peng night is packed wall-to-wall. Streets near the moat become difficult to navigate. If you are travelling with young children or have mobility considerations, the organised ticketed lantern events outside the city offer more space and a more controlled environment, though they charge for entry.

For Sukhothai, arrive at least one day before the festival. Accommodation in the historical park area books out fast, and the town is small. Consider staying in Phitsanulok (about 50 kilometres south) and taking a day trip if the Sukhothai guesthouses are full.

In Bangkok, the festival night is busy but the city is large enough to absorb the crowds. River-view hotel rooms with Chao Phraya views book out early for the festival night — riverside rooms at mid-range Bangkok hotels can sell out 6–8 weeks in advance for this specific evening.

2026 Budget Reality: What to Expect to Spend

Accommodation (per night, festival period)

• Budget: Guesthouses in Chiang Mai Old City — 800–1,500 THB per night (compared to 400–700 THB in the weeks before)
• Mid-range: 3-star hotels near the Ping River or Old City — 2,500–5,000 THB per night
• Comfortable: 4-star riverside or Old City properties — 6,000–12,000 THB per night during peak festival nights

Festival Activities

• Krathong (ready-made, at the river): 50–150 THB for a standard banana-trunk krathong; 200–400 THB for larger decorated versions
• Khom loi sky lantern (single): 50–100 THB at street stalls in Chiang Mai
• Organised ticketed lantern release events (Chiang Mai): 2,000–4,500 THB per person for the main venue events — prices vary by event organiser and seat/standing area
• Sukhothai Historical Park entrance (festival period): 100 THB standard foreign visitor fee, with festival lighting events sometimes requiring a separate ticket of 100–200 THB

Getting There

• Bangkok to Chiang Mai domestic flight: 800–2,500 THB booked in advance; prices climb sharply for 1–3 November 2026 departures as the festival approaches
• Train (Bangkok to Chiang Mai overnight sleeper): 700–1,500 THB depending on class — book through the State Railway of Thailand’s online system, which in 2026 accepts international cards more reliably than in previous years

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Loy Krathong in 2026?

Loy Krathong in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 3 November. The main celebrations happen on the evening and night of this date. In Chiang Mai, the wider Yi Peng festival runs 2–4 November, with the full moon night of 3 November being the centrepiece.

Is Yi Peng only in Chiang Mai?

Yi Peng is primarily a northern Thai (Lanna) tradition. Chiang Mai is the most famous location, but Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, and other northern provinces also observe the festival with sky lantern releases. The rest of Thailand celebrates Loy Krathong (floating baskets) but not Yi Peng sky lanterns in the same way.

Can tourists release sky lanterns during Yi Peng?

Yes. Anyone can purchase khom loi at street stalls during the festival and release them. There are also large ticketed organised events specifically designed for visitors. Note that sky lantern releases are restricted near airports — Chiang Mai airport enforces no-fly zones during the festival, which affects flight schedules.

How far in advance should I book for Yi Peng 2026?

For Chiang Mai specifically, book accommodation 2–3 months in advance — ideally by August 2026. Hotels near the Old City and Ping River sell out fastest. Domestic flights for 1–3 November also fill quickly. Waiting until October will mean significantly higher prices or no availability in central areas.

What is the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?

Loy Krathong is a nationwide Thai festival focused on floating decorated baskets on water. Yi Peng is a northern Thai tradition involving the release of paper sky lanterns. In Chiang Mai, both happen simultaneously on the same full moon night, which is why the city becomes the most popular destination for both festivals combined.

📷 Featured image by Tony Pham on Unsplash.