Alvin TravelAlvin Travel

Loy Krathong & Yi Peng 2026: Dates, Tickets & Fake Sites

By Published Updated

views 1AI reads 44

Loy Krathong & Yi Peng 2026: Dates, Tickets & Fake Sites

As of October 2026, Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, and Chiang Mai's Yi Peng festival runs 23–25 November, with sky lanterns allowed only on 24 and 25 November from 19:00 to 01:00 at approved sites outside the city. The city's events and krathong floating are free; only private mass-release events such as CAD Khomloy in Mae On need a paid ticket, and many look-alike sites claim to be official.

When are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in 2026?

Loy Krathong night is Tuesday 24 November 2026 (full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month); Chiang Mai's Yi Peng festival runs 23–25 November, with legal lantern releases only on the nights of 24 and 25 November.

WhatWhere2026 date / timeCostKey point
Loy Krathong (floating a krathong)Rivers, canals, park ponds nationwideTue 24 Nov, eveningFreeMain night everywhere in Thailand
Yi Peng city festival (lamps, Lanna shows)Venues inside Chiang Mai municipality23–25 NovFreeOrganised by Chiang Mai Municipality
Grand krathong procession (royal cup contest)Chiang Mai cityWed 25 Nov, eveningFreeRoyal-cup procession contest
Sky lantern and fireworks windowApproved sites only, outside no-release zones24 and 25 Nov, 19:00–01:00—Banned inside Chiang Mai city
Smoke lanterns (khom khwan / wao hom)Approved sites only24 Nov only, 10:00–12:00—Daytime only; not on 25 Nov
CAD Khomloy ticketed mass releaseCAD Cultural Center Lanna, Mae On districtAdvertised for 24 and 25 NovPaid — check the organiserPrivate event, can sell out early
  • 24 Nov is "small krathong day" and 25 Nov "big krathong day"; venue programmes come out close to the date.

Free Yi Peng events vs paid lantern tickets: what's the difference?

Everything the city and province organise is free; you only need a ticket for a private mass-release event outside the city, and no ticket lets you release a lantern inside Chiang Mai.

Thai family floating a candle-lit krathong from a bamboo jetty on the Ping River in Chiang Mai
Thai family floating a candle-lit krathong from a bamboo jetty on the Ping River in Chiang MaiPhoto: John Shedrick from Chiang Mai, Thailand (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Free: what you can do without a ticket

Paid: private mass-release events

How to spot fake tickets and look-alike sites

What are Chiang Mai's 2026 lantern rules, and will flights be affected?

Sky lanterns and fireworks are allowed only on 24 and 25 November 2026, 19:00–01:00, only at approved sites and times, and never inside Chiang Mai city or the airport no-release zone.

  • Approved days and hours: 24 and 25 Nov, 19:00 to 01:00 the next morning, per the Chiang Mai provincial PR office (7 Oct 2026) and the provincial briefing of 20 Oct 2026.
  • Smoke lanterns: 24 Nov only, 10:00–12:00, and not on 25 Nov. The provincial PR office adds that lanterns must meet Thai community product standard มผช. 808/2552 and stay aloft no more than 7 minutes.
  • No firecrackers may be tied to a lantern.
  • Inside Chiang Mai city: Mueang Chiang Mai district has asked for a strict ban on releases in the city (municipality meeting of 23 Sep 2026), and hotels have been asked to warn guests.
  • Near the airport: according to the provincial briefing of 20 Oct 2026 reported by Chiang Mai News, a special surveillance zone includes no-release areas and areas needing permission; organisers apply to the district chief via the Bampen app, and violators face penalties under the relevant laws.

Will flights be affected?

General information — check official sources for your situation.

Where else to celebrate Loy Krathong, and how to get around

Outside Chiang Mai, Loy Krathong is a riverside krathong night on Tue 24 Nov 2026, with Bangkok's Chao Phraya River and Sukhothai Historical Park the two biggest stages.

  • Bangkok: the Chao Phraya is the main venue — in 2025 TAT promoted a river festival across 9 piers from Wat Pho to ICONSIAM; the 2026 programme had not been published as of 23 Oct. A Chao Phraya Princess dinner cruise is one way to watch the river that night — the operator notes route changes on certain dates, so check 24 Nov first.
  • Sukhothai: Sukhothai Historical Park hosts a multi-night Loy Krathong and candle festival; in 2025 it ran 27 Oct–5 Nov. Check the 2026 programme with TAT before booking.
  • Chiang Mai by day: mornings are free — for example an Elephant Jungle Sanctuary tour from Chiang Mai on 24 or 25 Nov.

Getting around and crowd tips

Compare prices for related tickets

FAQ

  • When is Loy Krathong 2026?

    Loy Krathong 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. Chiang Mai's Yi Peng runs 23–25 November.

  • Is the Yi Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai free?

    Yes, the city events, krathong floating and the 25 November procession are free. Only private mass releases outside the city, such as CAD Khomloy in Mae On, are ticketed.

  • Can I release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai Old City?

    No. Releases are banned inside Chiang Mai city and the airport no-release zone; they are allowed only at approved sites on 24 and 25 November 2026 from 19:00 to 01:00.

  • Will flights to Chiang Mai be cancelled during Yi Peng 2026?

    Evening flights on 24–25 November are likely to change, but no 2026 schedule was out as of 23 October. In 2025, 161 flights changed and the last left by 19:00.

  • How do I avoid fake CAD Khomloy tickets?

    Check the date is 24 or 25 November 2026 and the venue is in Mae On, and pay by credit card only. Confirm the organiser's name and refund terms first.

Sources

Alvin LimRuns Alvin Travel

Tour guide for 5 years: a Chinese- and English-language guide in Korea, now a certified Korean-language guide in Taiwan. Based in Taipei and studying for a master's degree at National Taiwan University (NTU).

About us and how our guides are made →

More guides