Thailand’s lantern festival is actually two lantern festivals held on the same full moon night. The Yi Peng lantern festival is the north’s festival where they light up the sky with lanterns, particularly in Chiang Mai. Meanwhile, Loy Krathong is the festival of floating candlelit baskets on rivers and lakes across Thailand. They are held during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which normally falls in November. In 2026, Loy Krathong is on Tuesday 24 November, and the main sky lantern launches of Chiang Mai will be on 24 and 25 November.
Planning a visit during Thailand’s lantern festival takes some planning that many tourists do not consider beforehand. The sky lanterns cannot anymore be launched without restriction in Chiang Mai’s city center, the most popular sky lantern launch event requires buying tickets, and flights going to Chiang Mai have to be re-scheduled according to the time when lanterns are lit. This guide will provide information about the dates, difference between the two lantern festivals, places to visit, ticket prices in baht, dollars and rupees, regulations, and tips for travelers from India and USA.
The Short Version:
All your requirements in one view.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Yi Peng sky lanterns plus Loy Krathong water floats |
| When? | Full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, usually November |
| 2026 date | Loy Krathong Tuesday 24 November |
| Chiang Mai mass release 2026 | 24 and 25 November, ticketed venue |
| 2027 date | Loy Krathong Saturday 13 November |
| Best place for sky lanterns | Chiang Mai, at licensed venues only |
| Best place for water floats | Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Bangkok, Tak |
| Ticket for mass release | About 4,800 to 15,900 THB |
| Free to join? | Loy Krathong yes; sky lantern mass release no |
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong: What’s the Difference:
These two names are sometimes used interchangeably, but in Chiang Mai both festivals occur on a single weekend. However, there are distinctions between them in terms of origin.
| Detail | Yi Peng | Loy Krathong |
|---|---|---|
| What people release | Sky lanterns called khom loi | Floating baskets called krathong |
| Where | Northern Thailand, especially Chiang Mai | The whole country |
| Roots | Lanna kingdom tradition | Central Thai tradition |
| Meaning | Letting go of bad luck, making merit | Thanking the water goddess, asking forgiveness |
| Cost to take part | Mass releases need a ticket | Free, just buy a krathong |
Yi Peng gets its name from the Lanna calendar, which translates to the second full moon of the year. In addition to the sky lanterns, Chiang Mai sees hanging lanterns and smaller clay oil lamps called phang prathip.
Loy Krathong is an even more popular national holiday. The krathong is a decorative boat made out of a banana tree stem, banana leaves, and flowers and put into the water with a candle and incense to honor Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of the waters, and to make one’s sorrows and sins float away. Couples usually release the krathong together, and according to legend, if two krathongs sail next to each other, the couple’s love will be forever.
Lantern Festival Dates by Year:
Because Loy Krathong takes place according to the lunar calendar, its date shifts every year, sometimes as many as three weeks in advance. Here are some of the dates of Loy Krathong celebrations in recent years, as well as in future years, along with the dates of the primary releases of Loy Krathongs in Chiang Mai.
| Year | Loy Krathong | Chiang Mai Yi Peng mass release |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Monday 27 November | 27 and 28 November |
| 2024 | Friday 15 November | 15 and 16 November |
| 2025 | Wednesday 5 November | 5 and 6 November |
| 2026 | Tuesday 24 November | 24 and 25 November |
| 2027 | Saturday 13 November | To be announced |
There is a beautiful coincidence for the world readers. The full moon of the 12th month of the Thai calendar frequently coincides with Kartik Purnima, and the celebration of both Loy Krathong and Dev Deepawali will take place on the same day – on Tuesday, 24 November, 2026.
Where to Celebrate the Lantern Festival:
Chiang Mai is the main highlight but not the only worthwhile place to be there during the celebration.
The combination of both traditions can be found only in Chiang Mai, and you should expect lantern-lit temples in the Old Town, krathongs floating on the Ping River, a parade of lighted floats, and famous sky lanterns released by the thousands at designated spots outside of the city. The festival normally lasts for three days around the full moon.
Sukhothai is the ancient capital city where the beginning of Loy Krathong, according to Thai folklore, was supposed to happen. And its festival takes place within the walls of Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where krathongs float on the former temple pools, candles are lit amidst ruins, and there are light and sound show programs.
The celebrations take place along the banks of the Chao Phraya River and in numerous public parks around Bangkok. It is the simplest solution if you have limited time to visit Thailand. Hotels on the banks of the river, dinner cruises, and even mall waterfronts participate in the celebration of Loy Krathong. Alcohol sales, fireworks, and sky lanterns are strictly prohibited in public parks in Bangkok, so the capital is a water-float party only.
Tak is a smaller town situated on the banks of the Ping River, where the festival called Loy Krathong Sai takes place. Here you can see hundreds of small coconut-shell floats that form chains and float downstream. This celebration is considered to be the most beautiful and not so crowded version of the festival.
The Big Ticketed Sky Lantern Release in Chiang Mai:
The image that comes to mind of thousands of lanterns flying at once is due to organized mass launches. The biggest is the CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival, which is held outside Chiang Mai in the countryside and attracts tens of thousands of visitors over its two days. In 2026, it will take place on November 24 and 25, having the same program for both days.
Six classes of tickets are available – Standard, VIP, Premium, Gold, Platinum and Elite. The more premium class ticket, the higher the price, and all the tickets include the release of lanterns, culture shows, Lanna style dinner and transfer shuttle service from designated points in the city.
| Ticket | Price in THB | Roughly in USD | Roughly in INR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, cheapest tier | About 4,800 | About US$150 | About Rs 14,000 |
| Elite, top tier | About 15,900 | About US$485 | About Rs 46,000 |
Both the dollar and rupee amounts are approximate, based on current exchange rates. The program is fixed in time, and the shuttles from the city start going at early afternoon hours, guests should be at the venue by about 5 pm, dinner starts around 5.30 pm, ceremony with monks chanting around 7 pm, and finally the lanterns are lit at 8.15 pm, with fireworks to follow.
There are a couple of things that might surprise people. First, tickets are not refundable, make sure you pick the right dates. Guests are expected to dress modestly, without shorts, tank tops, and mini-skirts. It is forbidden to smoke, drink alcohol or bring drones. There are no ATMs at the venue. Tickets can only be bought from the official website and authorized resellers.
How to Enjoy the Festival for Free in Chiang Mai:
A ticket is not required to get the magic feeling. The major parts of the festival take place on the streets, at the temples and the riverside of Chiang Mai, and everything there is completely free of charge.
Go to the temples of the Old Town in the evening hours. Wat Phan Tao and Wat Phra Singh are one of those temples where hanging lanterns and candles illuminate the places, and chanting ceremonies by the monks are carried out here. Then proceed to the Tha Phae Gate, and further to the Ping River, where people gather to float their krathongs both from the riverside and from Nawarat Bridge. Parades of illuminated floats and dances take place in the city on the main nights of the festival.
Take a krathong from the street vendor or from the flower stall nearby, light the candle and incense, make a wish and let it go. This is one of the most simple and unforgettable things to do in Thailand.
The Rules on Sky Lanterns:
This is the most intriguing aspect of the lantern festival which tourists learn once they get there. It is controlled in order to avoid any risks since Chiang Mai International Airport is situated nearby, and thus, a flaming paper lantern flying through a flight route would be considered a threat.
Sky lanterns are not permitted to be flown in the center of Chiang Mai. The provinces define certain zones and inform people about time of permitted release prior to the festival every year. For instance, in 2025, sky lanterns could only be flown in the zones of Chiang Mai and Lamphun from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the two major festival days. It is a crime that may be punished by jail time and huge fines, which increases in case of causing a fire.
Purchasing a sky lantern from a street vendor does not give tourists the right to fly it whenever they wish.
Flights During the Festival:
Every year, flights at Chiang Mai Airport are canceled or rescheduled during the time when the lanterns are launched. During the year 2025, the latest departing flights at the airport were leaving the place at 7 pm on both major nights of the festival.
| Year | Flights cancelled | Flights rescheduled | Festival nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 101 | 59 | 27 and 28 November |
| 2024 | 74 | 96 | 15 and 16 November |
| 2025 | 65 | 96 | 5 and 6 November |
The takeaway from the above information is clear enough. It is better not to fly in or leave from Chiang Mai at night on major festival days, and to arrive a day early if possible.
The Greener Side of the Festival:
There is much left behind in the waters during Loy Krathong, and Thailand has really been striving to make it eco-friendly. In Bangkok, there is a clean-up effort to collect every krathong, and their counts prove just how far things have come.
| Year | Krathongs collected in Bangkok | Natural materials | Foam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 639,828 | 96.7% | 3.3% |
| 2024 | 514,590 | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| 2025 | 391,027 | 82.8%, plus 10% bread | 7.2% |
The natural krathongs are crushed to become organic fertilizer, while the foam krathongs are buried in landfills. The foam krathongs are not allowed in the parks of Bangkok, and the bread floats are not encouraged because the ponds in the parks are closed systems. Bangkok also offers an online site where you can do krathong floating without generating any waste. If you do krathong floating, try banana trunk, leaves, and flowers.
Planning Your Trip From India:
While Indian passport-holders may enter Thailand visa-free for tourism purposes, their allowed stay period was reduced from 60 days to 30 days for those coming after 15 September 2026. It should be more than enough for attending the festival. Besides, all tourists from other countries have to fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online form three days before arrival to Thailand.
The major route from India to Chiang Mai involves transit via Bangkok. Flights from Delhi or Mumbai to Bangkok last for four to four and a half hours, while flights from Kolkata last for two and a half. The second flight to Chiang Mai takes one hour and ten minutes. In Chiang Mai, as well as during the CAD dinner, vegetarians won’t face any difficulties.
Hotels in Chiang Mai quickly become sold out during the festival week, so make sure to book your place three to six months in advance. Take some Thai Baht with you, as street stalls and krathong-sellers usually do not accept plastic money.
Planning Your Trip From the United States:
American passport holders are granted visa-free entry to Thailand for tourism purposes with the same restriction of 30 days from 15 September 2026 as well as the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Most Americans make their way to Chiang Mai with one or two stops along the route in major cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Doha, or Dubai and Bangkok.
Since the trip is long and there is a time difference, you should arrive two to three days prior to the event to adjust to jet lag. For many Americans, this experience is not something new since they saw the sky filled with flying lanterns in the movie “Tangled”.
What to Wear and Bring:
November marks the beginning of the cool season in northern Thailand, when the day temperatures are pleasant but evening temperatures are cool, so it is best to bring along a light jacket. In terms of temple etiquette and the CAD venue, it is important to ensure that your shoulders and knees are covered.
Mistakes to Avoid:
- Launching a sky lantern in the center of Chiang Mai, where doing so is not allowed.
- Making a booking for a flight at any time during the nights of the main festivals.
- Purchasing release tickets from people who are not authorized vendors.
- Waiting until the final month to book hotels, when rates are high.
- Wearing shorts or sleeveless clothing to the CAD ceremony or any temple.
- Using foam for making the krathong.
Lantern Festival Thailand Trivia:
- Yi Peng translates to mean “the full moon of the second month” in the Lanna calendar.
- Phang Prathip is the name of the small clay oil lanterns placed in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng.
- According to Thai folklore, Loy Krathong was founded in Sukhothai, the capital of the country at the time.
- Loy Krathong will coincide with Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali in India in 2026.
- A total of 391,027 krathongs were recovered in Bangkok from its waterways following the Loy Krathong in 2025.
- Chiang Mai International Airport canceled 65 flights and rescheduled 96 more during the 2025 release days.
Final Take:
The lantern festival celebrated annually in Thailand during November is one moon of two traditions: Yi Peng’s floating lights in the north of the country and Loy Krathong’s floating lights everywhere else. The important date in 2026 is Tuesday 24 November. Visit Chiang Mai to celebrate both events, buy tickets for the spectacular mass launching of the lanterns if you want to experience the magical sight of lantern-filled skies, and enjoy the rest of the nights by floating a krathong on the Ping River for free. Follow the lantern regulations, keep your krathong traditional, don’t fly at night during the festivals, and enjoy the night of your dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The lantern festival occurs on the full moon of the 12th lunar month in Thailand, typically in November. For 2026, Loy Krathong is observed on 24 November Tuesday and Yi Peng mass lantern launch in Chiang Mai is on 24-25 November. For 2027, Loy Krathong occurs on 13 November, Saturday.
Yi Peng is the name of the northern region’s sky lantern release festival that occurs in Chiang Mai while Loy Krathong is the national floating of baskets on water festival. Since both Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals occur on the same full moon, the two festivals are celebrated together in Chiang Mai.
Sky lanterns cannot be freely released in Chiang Mai’s city center. Lantern releases can only occur in designated places and designated times every year. Mass lantern releases are ticketed events in Chiang Mai. However, floating a krathong in the river is free.
The ticket price for CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai starts from 4,800 THB for the Standard package and goes up to 15,900 THB for Elite. In total, this makes US150-US485 or Rs 14,000-Rs 46,000. These packages include dinner, entertainment show, lanterns and shuttle transfer service.
Chiang Mai is considered the best destination to enjoy the lantern festival in Thailand because this is the only city that hosts sky lanterns and water floats in the same festival. Sukhothai offers the best Loy Krathong festival experience, while Bangkok remains the easiest one.
No, Indians do not require visa for their tourist trip to Thailand of up to 30 days starting from the 15 September 2026. Nevertheless, you will have to fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online 3 days prior to the departure.