Imagine thousands of glowing lanterns drifting above Chiang Mai’s moat and temples while krathongs float down the river below. That is Yi Peng, one of the most photographed festivals in Thailand.
This guide covers everything you need to plan Yi Peng 2026: the dates night by night, the free celebrations, the ticketed lantern releases, the rules, and a simple three-day plan.
What are the key facts for Yi Peng 2026?
| Dates | 23 to 25 November 2026, with the main nights on 24 and 25 November |
| Where | The Old City and the Ping River in Chiang Mai, plus ticketed venues outside the city |
| Free to watch | Yes: candles around the moat and gates, krathongs on the river and the Grand Krathong procession |
| Lantern release | Ticketed venues only, from about 4,880 baht per person. Releasing lanterns in the city is banned |
| Weather | About 31°C by day and 20°C at night, with little rain |
| Book first | Your hotel and your flight, because both fill for the festival nights |
What is Yi Peng?
Yi Peng is a Lanna festival from northern Thailand, celebrated on the full moon in November. Traditionally, people release khom loi sky lanterns as a way of letting go of the past and making a wish, and temples, gates and lanes glow with paper lanterns.
It happens at the same time as Loy Krathong, the nationwide festival of floating krathongs on water, so in Chiang Mai the two blend into one celebration. In short, Loy Krathong is about floating things on water, and Yi Peng is about lanterns.
What happens each night of Yi Peng 2026?
| Date | In the city (free) | Ticketed lantern release |
| Mid-November | Lanterns and decorations go up around the Old City | None |
| 23 Nov (Mon) | The festival opens officially | None announced |
| 24 Nov (Tue) | Full moon and Loy Krathong night: krathongs on the Ping at Nawarat Bridge and on the moat | CAD Khomloy in Mae On, night 1 |
| 25 Nov (Wed) | Grand Krathong procession from Tha Phae Gate | CAD Khomloy in Mae On, night 2 |
These dates follow the city’s planning meeting of 23 September 2026, as reported by Visit Thailand Today. Sources differ on which night is Loy Krathong itself, but Thai calendars list Tuesday 24 November. Check the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the city programme closer to the date.
What can I see for free in the Old City?
Most of Yi Peng costs nothing, and for many visitors it is the best part. Here is where to be.
Why visit Tha Phae Gate and the moat?
Candles and clay lamps line the moat and the old gates, paper lanterns hang over lanes and temple courtyards, and the main stages and pageants are at Tha Phae Gate. It is the easiest place to soak up the atmosphere on any of the three nights.
What is there at the Three Kings Monument and Wat Phan Tao?
The Three Kings Monument hosts the opening and lantern-lighting ceremonies, and Wat Phan Tao is a short walk away, which makes this a pleasant quieter loop between the bigger crowds.
Where can I float a krathong at Nawarat Bridge?
On the full-moon night, the place to float a krathong is the Ping River around Nawarat Bridge, about 1.4 km from Tha Phae Gate. Arrive by about 17:00 to claim a spot on the bank, buy a krathong from the stalls nearby (choose banana leaf or bread over foam), and watch your footing, because the steps get slippery and crowded.
What is the Grand Krathong procession?
The procession on 25 November is the city’s big parade, with illuminated floats and dancers from Chiang Mai’s districts. Last year it set off from Tha Phae Gate along Tha Phae Road at 18:00, and the 2026 route and time will be in the city programme.
How does the ticketed lantern release work?
The image everyone has in mind, thousands of lanterns rising at once, is a ticketed event outside the city. The biggest is CAD’s Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival at the CAD Cultural Center Lanna in Mae On, east of Chiang Mai, on 24 and 25 November 2026.
Every ticket includes a shuttle from the city, a Lanna buffet dinner, a cultural programme and two lanterns. Pickups run from about 13:00 to 14:30, dinner is at 18:30, and the release is at about 20:15, finishing by 20:45.
| Ticket tier | Price per person | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4,880 baht | Songthaew transfer, buffet dinner and two lanterns |
| VIP, Premium, Gold | 6,480 to 8,880 baht | Better transfer and seating |
| Platinum, Elite | 11,880 to 15,880 baht | Top seating and transfer from MAYA mall |
Prices are from CAD’s authorised distributor for 24 and 25 November, as reported by Visit Thailand Today.
How do I buy lantern tickets safely?
Several websites call themselves the official CAD ticket site and quote slightly different prices, and resellers charge a markup. Compare the price for the same night and tier, check that the venue is named, read what is included and the refund terms, and keep your confirmation. The full-moon night on 24 November sells out first. If a price looks too good to be true, walk away.
Are there other lantern releases?
A newer Loy Krathong and sky lantern festival is planned at Miracle Land on the Mae Taeng River on 24 and 25 November, and smaller events run around Doi Saket. Whether the paid successor to the old free release at Maejo University runs in 2026 had not been confirmed.
Is the ticket worth it?
The city festival is worth planning a trip around on its own. The ticketed release is a long afternoon and evening, with a shuttle, a buffet and a show, for about half an hour of lanterns.
If that moment is why you are coming, book it. If you are on a budget or wary of crowds, spend 24 November at Nawarat Bridge and 25 November on Tha Phae Road, and you will still see the festival at its best.
What are the lantern rules in Chiang Mai?
Releasing sky lanterns inside Chiang Mai city is banned, and so is releasing them near the airport, because falling lanterns can burn and can hit aircraft. Last year the province allowed releases only in approved zones on the festival nights from 19:00 to 01:00, with reported penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht.
The 2026 order had not been published at the time of writing, so check it when it appears. Street vendors may still sell lanterns, so do not light one in the Old City or near the river. For real lanterns, book a ticketed release outside the city.
How should I plan my Yi Peng trip?
When should I book a room?
Book the room first. Last year, Chiang Mai’s hotels expected to be full on the festival nights, with rates up 10 to 15%, and the Old City and the riverside near Nawarat Bridge go first. Aim for 23 to 26 November, and stay within walking distance of Tha Phae Gate or the river to avoid fighting traffic on the big nights.
How should I book flights and trains?
Flights fill too, and fares in festival weeks can reach about three times normal prices. Last year the airport cancelled or rescheduled more than 160 flights around the release nights, with the last evening departures moved earlier, so fly in by the afternoon of 23 November and leave after the 26th if you can.
The overnight train or bus from Bangkok is a good alternative when flights are full, and our guide to Bangkok to Chiang Mai compares the real costs.
What is the weather like, and what should I bring?
November is one of the best months of the year, with highs around 31°C, nights around 20°C and only about three rainy days, so bring a light layer for evenings. Temples are central to the festival, so cover your shoulders and knees. Wear comfortable shoes for crowded streets and keep your phone charged.
What does a simple three-day Yi Peng plan look like?
| 23 Nov (Mon) | Arrive by the afternoon. Wander the Old City lanterns, see the stages at Tha Phae Gate and have dinner nearby. |
| 24 Nov (Tue) | Rest by day. Either reach Nawarat Bridge by about 17:00 to float a krathong, or join the CAD release if you booked (pickup from about 13:00). |
| 25 Nov (Wed) | Explore the Old City by day, then watch the Grand Krathong procession from Tha Phae Gate in the evening. |
How do I get to Chiang Mai?
Most visitors reach Chiang Mai from Bangkok by a short flight, the sleeper train or a VIP bus. File your free Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the three days before you land. If you are flying into Thailand first, Fast Track Thailand guides you through a priority immigration lane at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang before you connect north.
Loy Krathong is also celebrated in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River, and in Sukhothai, where candlelit celebrations run in the historical park, so you can add either to your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which night is better, 24 or 25 November?
The 24th is the full moon, with krathongs on the river, and the ticketed release sells out first. The 25th has the Grand Krathong procession, so many visitors take one night for each.
How do I stay safe in the crowds?
Agree a meeting point before you go, because phone signal struggles in the crowds. Keep candles and lanterns away from clothes and hair, take care on slippery riverbank steps and keep valuables close.
Can I walk between the main free spots?
Yes. Nawarat Bridge is about 1.4 km from Tha Phae Gate, so it is a walk of roughly 15 to 20 minutes, or a short ride by songthaew or Grab when the streets are busy.
Yi Peng is a night worth planning around. When you are ready to start your trip smoothly, book Fast Track Thailand for your arrival in Bangkok.