Loy Krathong 2026: full moon on 24 November (est.) in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Sukhothai

Loy Krathong follows the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, which usually lands in November. In 2026 it is expected on Tuesday 24 November. The Thai calendar puts 2027 on Saturday 13 November.

Events run longer than one night in some places. Sukhothai Historical Park's festival lasts ten days, and Chiang Mai's Yi Peng is expected on 24–25 November.

Bangkok: float a krathong in a city park pond or on the Chao Phraya. The parks are free and open until midnight, which suits a single evening fitted around a city trip.

Sukhothai: a ten-day festival in the historical park, a ticketed show at night and the ruins to explore by day.

Chiang Mai: the same night is Yi Peng, with Lanna paper lanterns, clay lamps and parades in the old city. Sky lanterns go up only at licensed events outside the no-release zone.

In 2025 the BMA opened 33 parks in 21 districts for Loy Krathong, including Lumphini, Benjakitti, Chatuchak and Rama VIII, at their usual opening times and until midnight.

Foam krathongs are banned inside, as are sky lanterns, fireworks, firecrackers and alcohol sales, and offenders face legal action. If you can't go out, the city's online krathong site greener.bangkok.go.th was open from 5 am to midnight on the day.

The 2026 festival (Loy Krathong Phao Thian Len Fai) is held in Sukhothai Historical Park on 15–24 November. The light-and-sound show starts at 7 pm nightly, with an extra show at 8.30 pm on 24 November. The thailand.go.th listing gives three seat tiers of 500, 900 and 1,200 baht. Sales for 2026 opened on 20 May. In 2025 the seats were sold through Thai Ticket Major, with Sukhothai Province and a local social enterprise as organisers.

The 2025 programme included krathong and hanging-lantern contests, the light-and-sound show, candle lighting, fireworks, khon masked dance and a traditional market.

In Chiang Mai, Loy Krathong overlaps with the Lanna festival of Yi Peng, and krathongs are mostly floated on the Ping River.

In 2025 the whole of Mueang Chiang Mai district was a no-release zone. To release a sky lantern you have to book a licensed event outside it. In 2025 licensed sites could release lanterns from 7 pm to 1 am on 5–6 November, and an unlicensed release carried up to five years in prison or a 200,000-baht fine.

A traditional krathong sits on a slice of banana trunk or spider lily, wrapped in folded banana leaf, with three incense sticks and a candle. Stalls by the water sell ready-made ones, or you can buy the materials and make your own.

Foam krathongs are banned in Bangkok's city parks. Bread krathongs can be eaten by fish in a river, but in a closed park pond the leftovers pollute the water, so the city discourages them. The BMA has been promoting "one family, one krathong" to cut down what it collects the next day.

On the full-moon night the riverbanks, bridges and park ponds are at their busiest, the candles are open flames and the ground by the water can be slippery. With children or older relatives, pick a stretch with a railing and good lighting, keep the group back from the edge and let one person crouch down to float the krathong.

Sukhothai: the historical park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 together with Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet, as the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns. Renting a bicycle is the easy way round the ruins by day.

Chiang Mai: Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh in the old city and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on the mountain can fill a day or two beyond the festival night.