Yi Peng and Loy Krathong 2026 in Chiang Mai: Dates, Lantern Rules and How to Plan

October 23, 2026

Glowing paper lanterns hanging over a teak temple in Chiang Mai at night, with candlelit krathongs on the water

The short answer: Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. In Chiang Mai, Yi Peng is celebrated on the same full moon, so expect the main nights around November 23 to 25, with decorations and events for several days before. As of mid October 2026, Chiang Mai hadn't published its official 2026 program, so check the city's and the Tourism Authority of Thailand's announcements before you lock in flights. Float a krathong on the Ping River, walk the lantern-lit Old City and its temples, and if you want the famous mass sky lantern release, know that it happens at paid, permitted events outside the city, not at Tha Phae Gate.

When are Yi Peng and Loy Krathong in 2026?

The full moon night is Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Here's how the days usually work in Chiang Mai.

Day	Lunar day	What usually happens
Sun, Nov 22	13th waxing day	Preparation day: markets, decorations going up
Mon, Nov 23	14th waxing day (eve of the full moon)	Temple merit-making, lanterns lit in temples
Tue, Nov 24	Full moon (Loy Krathong)	Krathongs floated on the river; peak night
Wed, Nov 25	Day after	In recent years, Chiang Mai's Grand Krathong Parade has run on the final night

The lunar-day pattern comes from how Yi Peng is traditionally structured. The exact 2026 event dates, parade night and route are set by the city each year: in 2025, the full moon fell on November 5 and the main city nights ran around November 4 to 6. Treat the table above as a guide and confirm once the 2026 program is out (usually a few weeks before the festival).

What's the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?

Loy Krathong is about water; Yi Peng is about light and the sky. In Chiang Mai, they happen together.

Loy Krathong is celebrated across Thailand. People float a krathong, a small raft traditionally made of banana trunk and banana leaves, decorated with flowers, a candle and incense, on a river, canal or pond. It's a way to thank and apologize to the water, and to let go of bad luck.
Yi Peng is a Lanna (northern Thai) festival. "Yi Peng" refers to the full moon of the second month in the Lanna calendar, which lines up with the 12th month of the Thai calendar. Its symbols are lanterns: khom fai (decorative paper lanterns hung in temples and streets), phang prathip (small clay oil lamps), and khom loi (sky lanterns).

If you picture a city full of hanging lanterns, candlelit temples and people at the riverbank with krathongs, that's Chiang Mai during these nights. If you picture thousands of lanterns rising at once, that's a specific kind of organized event (more below).

Where should I go in Chiang Mai during the festival?

Stay in and around the Old City and the river. Most of what's free happens here.

Tha Phae Gate: The center of the city's celebrations. It has hosted the Lanna Yi Peng lantern contest, with lanterns made from natural materials like bamboo and sa paper, plus stages and crowds. Go early in the evening if you want to see the lanterns without being shoulder to shoulder.
Ping River and Nawarat Bridge: The classic place to float a krathong. The riverbanks near Nawarat Bridge get very busy on the full moon night. If you love a calmer moment, walk a little up or down the river from the bridge.
Wat Phan Tao: A small teak temple next to Wat Chedi Luang in the Old City, decorated with hanging lanterns and clay lamps during Yi Peng. If you love the quieter, candlelit side of the festival, this is your stop. Dress modestly and keep your voice down; it's a working temple.
Wat Chedi Luang: Next door, and also decorated for the festival.
The Grand Krathong Parade: Large decorated krathong floats and lantern processions through the Old City. Check the 2026 program for the night and route.

Can I release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai?

Probably not in the city, and you shouldn't try. Releases are restricted by the province every year, mainly because of the airport.

Chiang Mai International Airport sits right next to the city. Uncontrolled lanterns are a real danger to aircraft, so every year around Yi Peng, flights are cancelled or rescheduled. In 2025, local press reported that the airport moved its last departure earlier in the evening and that more than 160 flights were cancelled or rescheduled. Authorities also designated no-lantern and no-fireworks zones that, per 2025 reports, included Mueang Chiang Mai (the city) and nearby districts, plus a flight-safety zone around the airport. Time Out Chiang Mai reported penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht for breaking the ban.

The 2026 rules hadn't been published as of mid October 2026. Here's what to do:

Assume lanterns are banned in the Old City, at Tha Phae Gate and along the river, unless the official 2026 announcement says otherwise.
You'll likely still see people selling and releasing lanterns. Don't join in: besides the fines, burnt-out lanterns land on roofs, trees and farmland.
Float a krathong instead. It's the heart of the festival anyway.
If you're flying in or out, book flights that land well before or leave well after the main nights, and expect schedule changes.

Are the paid mass lantern release events worth it?

They're the only legal way to see a large, organized sky lantern release, but they're a ticketed tourist event, not a local tradition happening around you.

The big mass releases are held at permitted venues outside the city. The best known is the CAD Khomloy event at the CAD Cultural Center Lanna in Mae On district, which was among the officially approved events in 2025. A few things to know:

Buy only from the organizer or its authorized agents. Fake tickets and unofficial "lantern festival" packages are common around these dates. We don't list prices here because they change every year; check the organizer's site.
It's a long evening. Venues are outside the city, so it includes transport and a lot of waiting.
Think about the trade-off. If you love the photo moment and don't mind crowds and a set program, go. If you love the feeling of a city celebrating, stay in Chiang Mai, float a krathong and walk the lit-up temples; it's free and you won't miss the festival's best part.

How do I celebrate in a more sustainable way?

Choose a natural krathong and skip the sky lantern.

Buy or make a krathong of banana trunk, banana leaves and flowers. Avoid foam, plastic and glitter.
Share one krathong between two or more people. Fewer krathongs means less to clean up the next day.
Bring a reusable water bottle; street food stalls generate a lot of waste on festival nights.
Leave the sky lanterns to permitted events, where organizers control materials and clean-up.

Where should I stay for Yi Peng in Chiang Mai?

Stay walking distance from Tha Phae Gate or the river, and book now. In 2025, hotel occupancy in the city was reported at around 90% during the festival.

Area	If you love...	Watch out for
Old City (inside the moat)	Walking to temples and Tha Phae Gate	Road closures and crowds on the main nights
Tha Phae Road and around the gate	Being in the middle of everything	Noise until late
Riverside, near Nawarat Bridge	Krathongs at your doorstep, river views	Very busy riverbanks on the full moon night
Nimman	Cafés and a quieter base	You'll need a ride to the Old City, and traffic is slow during the festival

How do I plan around the crowds?

Pick your one big night and keep the rest flexible.

Book your hotel and flights now; check that your flight times aren't affected by the 2026 airport changes once they're announced.
Arrive by November 22 so you see the decorations go up and the quieter temple evenings.
Plan the full moon night (November 24) around the river: float your krathong early in the evening.
Keep the parade night open until the 2026 program confirms it.
Walk, or plan for long waits: roads around the Old City get closed or jammed.
Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket in the crowds.

Should I go to Sukhothai or Bangkok instead?

If you want Loy Krathong without Chiang Mai's crowds and lantern rules, both are good alternatives.

Sukhothai: If you love history, go here. The Loy Krathong and Candle Festival is held at Sukhothai Historical Park, among ancient temple ruins, with candlelit krathongs on the ponds. It usually runs for about ten days ending around the full moon (in 2025 it ran October 27 to November 5). Check TAT News for the 2026 dates.
Bangkok: If you're short on time, celebrate in the capital. In recent years, TAT and the city have run events along the Chao Phraya River at temple and riverside piers, and on canals near the old town. It's busier and less traditional than the north, but easy to combine with a city trip.

FAQ

When is Loy Krathong 2026? Tuesday, November 24, 2026, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month.

When is Yi Peng 2026 in Chiang Mai? On the same full moon. Expect the main nights around November 23 to 25, 2026, with events for several days before. Chiang Mai hadn't published its 2026 program as of mid October 2026.

Can I release a sky lantern at Tha Phae Gate? Assume not. In 2025, the city and the area around the airport were no-lantern zones, with heavy fines. Check the official 2026 announcement, and float a krathong instead.

Where can I see the mass lantern release? At ticketed, permitted events outside the city, such as the CAD Khomloy event in Mae On. Buy only from the organizer or its authorized agents.

Will my flight to Chiang Mai be affected? Possibly. The airport cancels or reschedules flights every year during the lantern nights. Avoid flying in the evening of the main nights, and check with your airline.