Thailand Lantern Festival 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Yi Peng & Loy Krathong (Chiang Mai & Beyond)
Imagine thousands of glowing lanterns drifting silently into a November sky while the river below shimmers with candlelit baskets. No, that's not a Studio Ghibli film — that's Chiang Mai on Yi Peng and Loy Krathong night. And yes, you can be there for both, on the same evening.
If this experience is on your bucket list (and honestly, why isn't it?), this is the only guide you need. We're breaking down everything — dates, tickets, what to do, what not to do, and how to stay connected the whole time without blowing your budget on roaming fees.
TL;DR: Yi Peng 2026 = November 24–25. Loy Krathong 2026 = November 25. Both happen in Chiang Mai at the same time. Book early. Stay connected with a TravelGator Thailand eSIM from just SGD $1.35. Thank us later.
What Even Is Yi Peng? (The Sky Lantern Festival)
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Yi Peng (ยี่เป็ง) is an ancient Lanna tradition — think the old northern Thai kingdom that ruled long before Thailand as a country existed. It's deeply rooted in Theravada Buddhism, and it's not a nationwide thing. This is a northern Thailand special, centred in Chiang Mai.
The name literally means "second full moon" in the Lanna lunar calendar. Every year in November, on that full moon night, locals and visitors release khom loi (โคมลอย) — glowing rice paper sky lanterns — as an act of making merit, releasing bad luck, and sending wishes upward.
If you've seen it in photos and thought it looked unreal — it does look unreal in person too. Except you're in it.
Yi Peng 2026 Dates
November 24 and 25, 2026.
These follow the Lanna lunar calendar, so the dates shift every year. Block your leave now. Hotels and flights near Chiang Mai's Old City fill up months in advance for this period.
What Even Is Loy Krathong? (The Water Lantern Festival)
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Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) is the nationwide version — celebrated all over Thailand, not just the north. While Yi Peng sends wishes up, Loy Krathong sends them down the river.
Loy = to float. Krathong = small decorative basket.
You make or buy a little banana-leaf basket, load it with flowers, a candle, and three incense sticks, light it up, make a wish, and let it go on the water. It's an offering to Phra Mae Khongkha (พระแม่คงคา), the water goddess — a way of saying thanks for the year's water and harvests, apologising for messing up the waterways, and releasing the emotional weight of the year.
It sounds simple. It hits different when the river is full of a thousand little glowing boats drifting away in the dark.
Loy Krathong 2026 Date
November 25, 2026.
Most celebrations kick off at dusk, peak between 8–10 PM, and wind down around midnight.
Yi Peng vs Loy Krathong: What's the Difference?
People roll into Chiang Mai thinking these are the same festival. They are not. Here's the quick breakdown:
| Yi Peng (ยี่เป็ง) | Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) | |
|---|---|---|
| Element | Sky | Water |
| What you release | Khom loi — sky lanterns | Krathong — floating banana-leaf baskets |
| Where | Chiang Mai + Northern Thailand only | All of Thailand |
| Who it honours | Buddha and the celestial heavens | Phra Mae Khongkha, the water goddess |
| Core vibe | Letting go, making merit | Gratitude, forgiveness, new beginnings |
| 2026 Dates | November 24–25 | November 25 |
| Cost | 4,900–15,900 THB for official events | Free at riverbanks (krathong ~20–30 THB) |
The short version: Yi Peng = sky, Loy Krathong = river. On November 25 in Chiang Mai, you get both at the same time. That's the magic.
How to Legally Participate in Yi Peng (This Part Matters)
Here's what a lot of travel guides skip: sky lantern releases are illegal inside Chiang Mai city limits. This isn't a guideline — it's an actual legal restriction, and it exists for good reasons: aviation safety, fire hazard, and lanterns landing on rooftops and power lines.
The only legal way to release a lantern in Chiang Mai is at an officially authorised venue outside the city. Don't risk it with a random vendor inside the city. You'll be putting yourself and others at risk, and you might miss out on the actual mass release anyway.
Get Tickets to the CAD Yipeng Khomloy Festival
The go-to official event for international visitors is the CAD Yipeng Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival, held at the CAD Cultural Center Lanna — about 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai's city centre.
What to know before you book:
- Tickets usually go on sale in May or June each year
- Price range: ~4,900 to 15,900 THB depending on tier
- Tiers: Standard, Premium, VIP, Elite, Platinum
- What's included (most tiers): two sky lanterns, one krathong, Lanna buffet dinner, cultural performances, and return shuttle transport
- Higher tiers get better seating, closer proximity to the ceremony, and more private viewing areas
Book only through the official CAD website or a verified agent. Tickets are typically non-refundable, so confirm your travel dates before paying. You cannot bring your own lanterns — two per ticket is the standard.
For most first-timers, Premium or VIP is the sweet spot between comfort and value.
What Happens on the Day
Shuttles typically depart between 1–4 PM from either Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre or Maya Shopping Mall (your e-ticket will confirm). Arrive 30 minutes early — the last shuttle waits for no one.
Rough timeline:
- 2:30–5:30 PM: Arrive, register, explore the cultural village and craft workshops
- 5:30–7:00 PM: Thai Lanna buffet dinner
- 7:00 PM: Entry into the ceremony area and opening rituals
- 8:15 PM: Mass lantern release + fireworks
- 8:45 PM: Ceremony ends, shuttles back to Chiang Mai
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The ceremony begins with monk blessings and chanting — it's genuinely moving, not just a photo op. Then traditional Lanna music and dance. Then the countdown. When thousands of lanterns rise at once, the whole crowd goes quiet. That silence hits harder than any fireworks show.
Each lantern is made from rice paper, a bamboo frame, and a small fuel cell. Before release, write your wish on it. When the fuel cell is lit and the lantern starts pulling upward in your hands — let go. Watch it join the thousands of others already rising.
Budget Alternative: Less Reliable, But Worth Knowing
If CAD is sold out or outside your budget, some alternative spots exist:
- Maejo University area
- Huay Tueng Tao Lake
- Smaller village celebrations nearby
These are more local, more unpredictable, and harder to verify year to year. Check Chiang Mai Facebook groups and local forums for up-to-date info if you go this route.
How to Participate in Loy Krathong
Make or Buy Your Krathong
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DIY: Workshops run throughout festival week at guesthouses, temples, and community centres. Takes 30–60 minutes. You fold banana leaves, arrange flowers, add candle and incense. A handmade krathong feels different when you float it — in the best way.
Buy one: Vendors line the riverbanks from the afternoon of festival day. Basic krathongs cost around 20–30 THB. More elaborate designs cost more. Buying from local artisans is always the move.
Go eco: Opt for krathongs made from banana trunk, banana leaves, bread, or other biodegradable materials. Avoid Styrofoam — it creates mess in the waterways and defeats the whole spirit of the thing. Remove any non-biodegradable decorations before floating.
Best Spots in Chiang Mai to Float Your Krathong
- Nawarat Bridge and the Ping River — the main event spot, especially beautiful as sky lanterns from official events drift overhead
- Iron Bridge area — slightly less crowded, equally gorgeous
- Riverside near Old City — great access, lots of food stalls and vendors nearby
- Tha Phae Gate area — great for the parade atmosphere, with water access close by
The Ritual
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Light your candle and three incense sticks. Hold the krathong in both hands. Make your wish or say a quiet prayer. Gently lower it onto the water and let it go.
If the candle stays lit until the krathong disappears from view — that's considered a good sign.
Peak window: 7–9 PM. The river at this time is something else entirely.
Practical Stuff You Actually Need to Know
What to Pack
- Light layers: November in Chiang Mai is warm in the day, cooler at night. A thin outer layer for evening is all you need.
- Comfortable shoes: Festival nights mean a lot of walking — temples, bridges, riverside markets, shuttle points. Comfort over style here.
- Power bank: Long nights = dead phones. Non-negotiable.
- A Thailand eSIM: See below.
Flights: Book With Flexibility
Aviation authorities regularly adjust, delay, or cancel flights around Chiang Mai International Airport during the main lantern nights because of airspace congestion from the sky lanterns. If you're flying in or out on November 24–25, build buffer time into your itinerary.
Book Everything Early
This cannot be stressed enough. Accommodation near Chiang Mai's Old City fills up months ahead for Yi Peng season. Ticket tiers sell out. Flights to Chiang Mai from Bangkok go fast. If you're serious about doing this in 2026, start planning now.
Stay Connected: Get Your TravelGator Thailand eSIM
Here's the thing about festival nights in Chiang Mai: you're going to need your phone. Maps to navigate between venues, shuttle pickup confirmation, real-time updates, the ability to post that lantern reel while it's still happening — all of this needs data.
Roaming charges from your home carrier are a waste of money. Hunting for a SIM at the airport is a queue you don't need. The smart move is a TravelGator Thailand eSIM — set it up before you leave, activate it when you land, and you're connected from the moment you touch down in Chiang Mai.
- From SGD $1.35 — no surprises, no daily limits, no throttled speeds
- Instant setup — no physical SIM, no airport queues, no roaming fees
- Dual-SIM friendly — keep your home number active while running TravelGator data
- Top up anytime — going to Bangkok or Sukhothai after? Same eSIM, just top up
👉 Grab your Thailand eSIM at TravelGator
Travel Later, TravelGator.
FAQs: Thailand Lantern Festival 2026
What is the lantern festival in Thailand called? Thailand has two: Yi Peng (sky lanterns, northern Thailand only) and Loy Krathong (floating water lanterns, nationwide). They overlap in Chiang Mai in November.
When is the Thailand lantern festival in 2026? Yi Peng falls on November 24–25, 2026. Loy Krathong is on November 25, 2026. Both follow the Thai and Lanna lunar calendars, so dates change annually.
What is the difference between Yi Peng and Loy Krathong? Yi Peng = sky lanterns, Chiang Mai only, requires a paid ticket for the mass release. Loy Krathong = floating baskets on water, free to participate, celebrated all over Thailand.
Do I need tickets for Yi Peng? Yes, for the official mass lantern release events. The main one is the CAD Yipeng Khomloy Festival, priced at around 4,900–15,900 THB. You cannot legally release sky lanterns within Chiang Mai city limits without attending an authorised venue.
Can I release sky lanterns for free? Within Chiang Mai city, no — it's prohibited. Some smaller, less regulated events happen outside the city, but availability and permits change year to year. For the full experience, the official event is your safest bet.
Where is the best place to experience both festivals? Chiang Mai, on November 25, 2026. Attend the CAD event for the sky lantern release, then head to Nawarat Bridge or the Ping River for Loy Krathong.
What should I bring to the Thailand lantern festival? Comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for cool nights, a power bank, your ticket confirmation, and a TravelGator Thailand eSIM for seamless mobile data throughout the trip.
Ready to snap a lantern reel that breaks the internet? Get connected first. Grab your TravelGator Thailand eSIM here — from just SGD $1.35, no BS.