Loy Krathong and Yi Peng 2026: Dates, Lantern Rules and Flight Changes

On the night of the November full moon, Thailand's rivers, lakes and canals fill with small floating offerings of banana leaf, flowers and candlelight, while in Chiang Mai thousands of paper lanterns rise into the dark. Loy Krathong and its northern sibling Yi Peng are among the most beautiful festivals in Asia, and among the most misunderstood. Every year, visitors arrive expecting to release a lantern anywhere they like, discover that their evening flight has been moved, or pay for a ticketed event without realising that the city's own celebrations are free.

In 2026, the festival falls later than in recent years, at the end of November, right at the start of the cool-season peak. This practical update covers the confirmed dates, the lantern rules that are genuinely enforced, what happens to flights in and out of Chiang Mai, the difference between ticketed and free experiences, and how to plan a calm, respectful festival trip.

The 2026 Dates

Loy Krathong is held on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In 2026 that falls on Tuesday 24 November. It is celebrated nationwide, from Bangkok's riverbanks to village ponds, but it is not an official public holiday, so offices and most services operate normally.

In Chiang Mai, Loy Krathong coincides with Yi Peng, the Lanna festival of the second month in the northern calendar, famous for sky lanterns. The best-known ticketed lantern event, the CAD Yi Peng festival, is scheduled for 24 and 25 November 2026, and the city's wider programme of decorations, processions and temple ceremonies typically spans several evenings around the full moon, with the main activity from roughly Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 November.

Precise hours for lantern releases, parade routes and road closures are announced by provincial and municipal authorities in the weeks before the festival, not months ahead. Treat any detailed timetable published now with caution, and check again in early November. For context on how Loy Krathong fits into the wider Thai year, see our guide to timing a trip around the festivals that matter.

Two Festivals, Two Kinds of Light

It helps to understand what you are actually looking for, because the two festivals are often confused.

• Loy Krathong is about water. People float a krathong, a small raft traditionally made from a slice of banana trunk decorated with banana leaves, flowers, incense and a candle, to honour the water goddess and symbolically let go of misfortune. It happens everywhere in Thailand, needs no ticket and is open to anyone.
• Yi Peng is about the sky. In the Lanna tradition, khom loi, or sky lanterns, are released as offerings and to carry away bad luck, while khom fai, or hanging lanterns, decorate temples, homes and streets. It is centred on Chiang Mai and the northern provinces.

In Chiang Mai, you can experience both in a single evening: floating a krathong on the Ping River and watching decorated lanterns glow across the old city. What you cannot do legally is release sky lanterns wherever you happen to be standing.

The Lantern Rules That Are Enforced

Sky lanterns are a serious aviation and fire hazard. Chiang Mai International Airport sits close to the city centre, and burning lanterns drifting across approach paths are a real danger. As a result, lantern release is tightly regulated.

• No release in the city centre. Mass free releases in central Chiang Mai have been banned for around a decade. The legal mass releases take place at authorised venues outside the city.
• Designated zones and time windows. Provincial authorities publish specific hours during which lanterns may be released, and only in permitted areas. In 2025, for example, sky lanterns were permitted in Chiang Mai and neighbouring Lamphun between 7 pm and 1 am on the two main festival nights, with smoke lanterns limited to a single morning window.
• Criminal penalties. Releasing lanterns or fireworks outside the permitted zones and hours can lead to fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. This is aviation-safety law, not etiquette.
• Lanterns for sale are not permits. Vendors in the old city sell lanterns everywhere. Buying one does not give you the right to release it.

Fireworks and firecrackers are also widespread during the festival. Keep a sensible distance, watch children closely and be aware that falling lanterns and debris can cause burns or small fires.

What Happens to Flights

This is the part of the festival that catches most visitors off guard. Every year, flights into and out of Chiang Mai are cancelled, retimed or added to keep the sky clear during the lantern windows.

In 2025, the festival affected 161 flights at Chiang Mai International Airport: 65 were cancelled and 96 rescheduled, while 44 extra flights were added afterwards to handle the backlog. Operations were adjusted so that the last departures left by about 7 pm on the release nights, concentrating traffic into the daytime and making the airport unusually busy.

For 2026, the specific adjustments had not been published by late summer. Expect a similar pattern around 24 and 25 November, and plan accordingly:

• Arrive in Chiang Mai at least a day before the main festival nights, ideally two.
• Avoid evening arrivals and departures on 24 and 25 November.
• Check your flight status in the weeks before travel, not just at booking. Airlines may change schedules without much notice.
• Consider arriving overland. The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok is a classic way to reach the north, though berths sell out fast in festival season; our slow rail guide to Thailand explains how to book.

Ticketed Events Versus the Free City Festival

Much of the confusion around Yi Peng comes from the famous photographs of thousands of lanterns rising at once. Those images come from ticketed events at authorised venues outside the city.

Ticketed mass releases. The largest and best-known is the CAD Yi Peng festival, held at a cultural centre in Mae On district, roughly 45 minutes from the city. Tickets typically include transfers, a Lanna-style dinner, cultural performances and a lantern to release at a coordinated moment. Prices for 2026 are widely reported from around 4,900 baht for standard seats up to about 15,900 baht for premium packages, with a handful of smaller venues starting lower. The best-known events sell out well in advance.

The free city festival. Meanwhile, the city itself celebrates without charge. The old city moat, Tha Phae Gate, the Ping River and temples such as Wat Phan Tao and Wat Chedi Luang are decorated with hanging lanterns and candles, processions pass through the streets and families float krathongs on the river. For many slow travellers, this older, community-centred celebration is more meaningful than a ticketed field.

Choosing between them depends on your priorities. If the mass release is a lifelong dream, book early, choose a reputable operator and accept the crowds and cost. If you want to experience the festival as local people do, stay in the city, walk, and let the evening unfold.

Beyond Chiang Mai: Quieter Places to Celebrate

Chiang Mai is not the only place to experience Loy Krathong, and it is certainly not the calmest. Several other destinations offer memorable celebrations with smaller crowds.

• Sukhothai: often described as the spiritual home of Loy Krathong, Sukhothai Historical Park hosts a festival with light-and-sound performances among illuminated ruins. Our piece on slow travel through Sukhothai covers the area in depth.
• Tak: the town is known for Loy Krathong Sai, when chains of small lamps in coconut shells are floated down the Ping River.
• Bangkok: riverside temples, piers and public parks along the Chao Phraya host crowded but joyful celebrations.
• Small towns and villages: almost any town with a river or lake celebrates, often with a local fair, beauty pageants and food stalls.

If you want a slower experience, consider spending the festival night in a smaller town and visiting Chiang Mai either side, when the decorations are still up but crowds have eased.

Respectful and Sustainable Celebration

Loy Krathong is a religious and cultural festival, not simply a spectacle. A few habits help you celebrate respectfully:

• Choose a natural krathong. Traditional krathongs made from banana trunk, leaves and flowers break down naturally. Avoid styrofoam or plastic, which still turn up in rivers after the festival.
• Share one krathong. Couples and families often float a single krathong together, reducing waste.
• Be mindful at temples. Dress modestly, remove shoes where required and keep noise down during ceremonies.
• Leave space on the water's edge. Piers and steps can become crowded and slippery. Wait your turn and help others, especially elderly people and children.
• Follow local guidance on lanterns. Respect the rules even if others ignore them.

Photographers should also avoid flying drones: airspace restrictions around Chiang Mai are tight during the festival, and drones near crowds or lanterns are dangerous.

Practical Logistics for 2026

Accommodation. Chiang Mai fills up quickly around Yi Peng, and prices rise sharply for the festival nights. Book as early as possible, particularly for small guesthouses in or near the old city. Staying slightly outside the centre can be calmer, but check transport options for returning late at night.

Getting around. Roads around the old city and river close or become gridlocked on festival nights. Walking is often the easiest option. For ticketed events outside the city, use the organiser's transfers or pre-arranged transport with a fixed meeting point for the return.

Weather. Late November is the start of the cool season in the north. Evenings can be surprisingly chilly, especially in open fields outside the city, so bring a light jacket.

Visas. If you are planning a longer stay around the festival, remember that visa-exempt stays for many nationalities were reduced in September 2026. Our update on the 30-day visa exemption changes explains what that means for your plans.

What to Do Next

1. Put Tuesday 24 November 2026 in your calendar and plan to be in place from 22 or 23 November.
2. Decide between a ticketed mass release and the free city festival, and book ticketed events early with a reputable operator.
3. Book accommodation in Chiang Mai, Sukhothai or your chosen town now; festival nights sell out.
4. Avoid evening flights into or out of Chiang Mai on 24 and 25 November, and recheck schedules in early November.
5. Check official announcements for lantern release hours and zones in the weeks before the festival.
6. For help building a slower northern itinerary around the festival, use our plan your journey page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Loy Krathong 2026?

Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. In Chiang Mai, Yi Peng celebrations run around the same dates, with ticketed lantern events on 24 and 25 November.

Can I release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai's old city?

No. Mass lantern releases in the city centre are banned. Releases are permitted only at authorised venues and during official time windows announced by the provincial authorities. Releasing lanterns elsewhere can lead to fines or even imprisonment.

Will my flight to Chiang Mai be affected?

Possibly, if you are flying in the evening on the main festival nights. In 2025, 161 flights were cancelled or rescheduled. Arrive a day or two early and check your flight in the weeks before travel.

Are the ticketed lantern events worth it?

They can be spectacular, but they are expensive, crowded and far from the city. Many travellers prefer the free city celebrations along the moat, the Ping River and temples. Decide what matters most to you before booking.

Is Loy Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?

No. Loy Krathong is a major festival but not an official public holiday, so banks, offices and transport operate normally, although evenings can be very crowded.

What should I use for a krathong?

Choose a traditional krathong made from banana trunk, leaves and flowers, which break down naturally. Avoid styrofoam or plastic, and consider sharing one krathong with your travel companions.