Loy Krathong 2026: 24 November, Where to Celebrate in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Sukhothai

Loy Krathong 2026 is Thailand's annual festival of floating offerings, and this year it falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full-moon night of the 12th lunar month. It is not a public holiday. The three standout celebrations are in Bangkok (five city venues plus Wat Arun), Yi Peng in Chiang Mai (23–25 November) and the candle-and-light festival in Sukhothai (15–24 November). This guide brings together the dates, venues and practical tips.

When is Loy Krathong 2026, and is it a holiday?

Loy Krathong is the custom of floating a small decorated raft, the krathong, on the full moon of the 12th lunar month to ask forgiveness from and thank the water goddess Phra Mae Khongkha for the water used throughout the year. Some traditions also link it to honouring the Buddha's footprint and the Chulamani relic.

Because the date follows the lunar calendar, Loy Krathong 2026 lands on Tuesday 24 November 2026, an ordinary working day rather than a government or bank holiday. Many events therefore run for several days before and after the main night, and going a day or two early is the easiest way to avoid the biggest crowds.

Loy Krathong 2026 in Bangkok: where to go

Bangkok's official celebration carries a theme of preserving Thai tradition along the waterways of Rattanakosin. The opening ceremony is on 24 November at 18:00 at Mahakan Fort, with activities spread across five sites.

Venue	Dates	Highlights
Rama VIII Bridge (Bang Phlat)	16–25 Nov	Student and community shows, krathong contest, market stalls
Phra Sumen Fort (Phra Nakhon)	23–25 Nov	Cultural performances, krathong-making demos, boat trips
Mahakan Fort (Phra Nakhon)	23–25 Nov	Floating krathong, Nang Noppamas pageant, giant krathong on the water, old-style market
Khlong Prem Prachakon, next to Don Mueang police station	23–25 Nov	Junior Noppamas contest, krathong contest, Bangkok local products
Khlong Prem Prachakon, Wat Samian Nari	24 Nov	Boat races, traditional boat parade, floating market, Thai dessert making

History: Bangkok's version of the festival is tied to the canals of Rattanakosin Island and the Chao Phraya River, and the term "Loy Krathong" itself only appears clearly in documents from the early Rattanakosin period. The Golden Mount temple fair, when a red cloth is wrapped around the chedi, is another 12th-month merit event that Bangkok residents attend every year.

There is also the "3 Temples, 1 Fort" fair from 17 to 29 November at Wat Saket, Wat Ratchanatdaram, Wat Thep Thidaram and Mahakan Fort, featuring the red-cloth wrapping of the Golden Mount chedi and a Phra Nakhon market. The Ministry of Culture holds its own event on 23–24 November at Wat Arun, and a digital Loy Krathong takes place on Song Wat Road on 23 November.

Tip: Mahakan Fort has six walk-through security checkpoints, so allow extra time to get in, and choose a krathong made from natural materials as the organisers request.

Yi Peng in Chiang Mai: Loy Krathong 2026 in the north

History: in the northern Lanna language "yi" means two and "peng" means full moon, so Yi Peng is the full moon of the second Lanna month, which matches the 12th month of central Thailand. Northern families build arches of greenery, light small oil lamps at temples and float "sapao", the Lanna-style krathong, to make merit and give alms.

Chiang Mai's Yi Peng festival runs from 23 to 25 November 2026. The main stage is the square at Tha Phae Gate (opening ceremony, lantern contest and parade), while the Ping River near Nawarat Bridge is the spot for floating krathong and watching lanterns. Temples in the old city light rows of lamps around their chedis in the early evening.

Lantern release rules for Yi Peng 2026

• Sky lanterns and light lanterns may only be released on 24 November (small krathong day) and 25 November (main krathong day), from 19:00 to 01:00.
• Smoke lanterns may only be released on 24 November from 10:00 to 12:00.
• Lanterns must not stay airborne for more than 7 minutes, and firecrackers are banned.
• Chiang Mai Airport adjusts its flight schedule on 24–25 November, so check your flight with the airline if you are travelling then.

Loy Krathong 2026 in Sukhothai: the candle and light festival

History: the festival's Thai name, "Phao Thian Len Fai" (burning candles, playing with light), comes from the King Ramkhamhaeng Inscription, which describes Sukhothai people lighting candles and fires as a merit-making celebration. The legend of Nang Noppamas inventing the lotus-shaped krathong is familiar to every Thai, even though historians still debate whether it was written much later. Sukhothai nevertheless remains the image of a traditional Loy Krathong, and every year's festival opens with a ceremony honouring King Ramkhamhaeng.

The Sukhothai festival runs from 15 to 24 November 2026 at Sukhothai Historical Park under the theme "The Heritage of Sukhothai: A Creative City". International performances from Sukhothai's partner cities take place on 19–23 November at 20:00, and the finale falls on Loy Krathong night itself, making it ideal for anyone who wants to see the festival in its classic form.

How to enjoy Loy Krathong safely

• Choose a krathong made from banana leaves, bread or other biodegradable materials, and avoid foam.
• Arrive before dusk, travel by train or boat, and keep a close eye on small children near the water.
• Hotels in Chiang Mai and Sukhothai fill up quickly during the festival, so book early.
• Dates and times may change according to the organisers, so check again before you travel.

Loy Krathong 2026 at a glance

Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November. For convenience, head to Mahakan Fort or Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok. To see a sky full of lanterns, go to Yi Peng in Chiang Mai on 24–25 November. For a traditional atmosphere, visit Sukhothai between 15 and 24 November. Find more events in the Events & Festivals section of Meeting Point.

Sources

• PPTV: November 2026 holiday calendar (Thai)
• Naewna: Bangkok's five Loy Krathong venues (Thai)
• Thansettakij: Loy Krathong 2026 schedule across Thailand (Thai)
• Naewna: Chiang Mai Airport flight changes during Yi Peng (Thai)
• Silpa Wattanatham: did Loy Krathong really begin in Sukhothai? (Thai)
• Government Public Relations Department: the Yi Peng tradition (Thai)
• Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT): illustrative photos in this article
• Cover photo: Nik Cyclist / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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Author Meeting Point Management Team, MBA, Thammasat University MBA, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) DBA, Thammasat University Editorial Team

The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.