Yi Peng Lantern Festival & Loy Krathong: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Chiang Mai)

Two nights under the full moon

Chiang Mai lights up from the river to the sky. On the water, thousands of small krathongs drift south on the Ping: rafts cut from banana trunk, folded from banana leaf, and finished with marigolds, a candle and three sticks of incense. Overhead, paper khom loi rise slowly, each one a hot-air balloon lit by a fuel ring of wax-soaked paper.

The dates announced for 2026 are November 24-25. Confirm timing on the official tourism source before you build a trip around them. The lunar calendar sets the festival, so it shifts every year.

Yi Peng and Loy Krathong are not the same thing

Two festivals share the same nights. Loy Krathong is celebrated across Thailand on the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. People float krathongs to thank the water spirits and to let go of bad luck.

Yi Peng is the northern Lanna version. The name means “full moon of the second month”, because the old Lanna calendar counts differently from the central Thai one. Chiang Mai marks it with lanterns of every kind:

• Khom loi: the sky lanterns that rise
• Khom kwaen: hanging lanterns strung over lanes and temple gates
• Khom thue: lanterns carried on a stick in processions

Expect the Old City’s lanes and temple grounds to be strung with lanterns, plus parades and fireworks along the river.

Where the lanterns go up

Most of the festival is free and happens in public spaces. These are the places worth planning your evenings around:

• Wat Phan Tao, on Phra Pokklao Road beside Wat Chedi Luang: a teak viharn whose grounds are lit with candles and lanterns. Monks often lead lantern ceremonies here.
• Tha Phae Gate: the brick east gate of the Old City, the main gathering point and a focus for stage events.
• Nawarat Bridge and the Iron Bridge (Khua Lek): the best spots to watch krathongs on the Ping and lanterns over the water.
• Tha Phae Road: the route that links the gate to the river and fills with parade traffic.

The largest krathong parade traditionally runs on the final night. Its floats come lit with bulbs and carry dancers in Lanna dress.

Tickets: free streets versus paid releases

You do not need a ticket for the city celebrations. Ticketed events are separate, privately run mass releases held on open grounds outside the city, historically north of town around Mae Jo, San Sai and Doi Saket. Thousands of people let their lanterns go at the same signal, and that is the scene in most of the famous photographs.

These packages usually bundle transport, a seat, a lantern and a meal. Sellers vary in quality. Buy only from organisers named on the official tourism channels, and confirm the date, venue and pickup point directly with them. Prices are listed on the organiser’s own site.

Launching a khom loi without starting a fire

This is the skill nobody explains. In recent years the city has limited lantern releases to set zones and time windows, because lanterns land on roofs and temples and drift into flight paths. Check the current rules before you light one.

When you do launch:

• Work in pairs: one person holds the paper top up while the other lights the fuel ring.
• Wait until the lantern pulls upward on its own. Releasing it early drops it into the crowd.
• Look up first. Trees, power lines and thatched roofs catch lanterns easily.
• Do not launch in a strong wind, and never launch near Chiang Mai International Airport.

Many people make a wish and say it silently before they let go. That habit is worth borrowing.

Floating your krathong the Chiang Mai way

Buy a krathong from the vendors who set up along the riverbanks. Look for banana trunk or bread versions, which break down in the water, and pass on any made of foam. Street vendors usually expect cash.

Light the candle and incense before you go down to the water, then crouch and set the krathong down gently rather than tossing it. Some locals tuck in a coin, a hair or a nail clipping as a token of letting go. Couples often float one together.

At the temples, dress as you would on any day. Cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes before entering a viharn. Keep your voice low near monks during chanting, and step out of the way when a procession comes through.

Getting around a city at standstill

Plan to walk. Traffic in the Old City and along the river slows to a crawl on festival nights, and many roads close for parades. The Old City is compact, and it is a straightforward walk from Tha Phae Gate east to the Ping.

Red songthaew trucks and ride-hail cars such as Grab work for getting in before dusk, but expect long waits afterwards. Book a room inside the moat or near the river so you can walk home.

Flights at Chiang Mai International Airport are usually rescheduled or cancelled during the main release windows. If you are flying on festival dates, check your timetable directly with the airline. Rooms across the city fill early for these nights, so reserve as far ahead as you can.