Loy Krathong 2026: When, Where and How to Join In

By Thai Culture Tours · 9 November 2026 · 5 min read

Once a year, on the night of the full moon in November, Thais walk down to rivers, canals and ponds and set small floating baskets on the water, each with a candle, incense and a few flowers. This is Loy Krathong, one of the most beautiful nights of the Thai year, and one that visitors are welcome to share. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday 24 November. This guide explains what the festival means, where to see it and how to join in without leaving a mess behind.

When is Loy Krathong 2026?

Loy Krathong is held on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, so the date moves each year. In 2026 the full-moon night is Tuesday 24 November. Large public events often start a few days earlier and build up to that night: the official Thailand tourism calendar lists the Sukhothai festival from 15 to 24 November 2026, for example. If a particular event matters to you, check its own dates nearer the time, because programmes are announced late and can change.

It is not a public holiday, so offices, banks and most attractions keep their normal hours. Expect busy roads and riverside crowds on the main evening.

What the festival means

The name roughly means "to float a ritual vessel". A krathong is a small raft, traditionally a slice of banana trunk wrapped and folded with banana leaves, decorated with flowers and carrying a candle and three incense sticks. Some people add a coin, a strand of hair or a clipped fingernail.

There are several layers of meaning. Many Thais float a krathong to thank the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, for the water that sustains life, and to ask forgiveness for polluting it. The candle is also an offering to the Buddha. For many people the most personal part is simply letting go: as the krathong drifts away, it carries off bad luck, anger and the troubles of the past year. Couples often float one together.

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng

In the north, Loy Krathong coincides with Yi Peng, the Lanna festival of the full moon of the second northern month, which corresponds to the twelfth Thai month. Chiang Mai celebrates both at once, with lanterns hung in temples and streets, krathongs on the Ping River and, at organised events, lanterns released into the sky. The famous pictures of thousands of glowing sky lanterns usually come from these ticketed events, not from a normal city street.

Where to see it

You can join in almost anywhere there is water, from a hotel pond to a temple lake. A few places stand out:

• Sukhothai Historical Park. The old capital holds one of the best-known celebrations, with light-and-sound shows among the ruins and candle displays. In 2026 the official listing gives 15 to 24 November, with ticketed evening shows.
• Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. Piers, riverside parks and temples along the river are packed on the night. The city usually designates riverside floating points and organises events at several piers. Lumphini and Benjakitti parks have lakes that are calmer than the river.
• Ayutthaya. The former royal capital has hosted large Loy Krathong events in its historical park in recent years. The programme for 2026 had not been announced when we wrote this, so check the Tourism Authority of Thailand news pages closer to the date.
• Chiang Mai. The combined Loy Krathong and Yi Peng celebrations make it the busiest choice; book accommodation and any lantern event well ahead.

How to float a krathong respectfully

1. Choose a natural krathong. Banana trunk, banana leaves and flowers break down in the water. Bread krathongs also dissolve and feed the fish. Avoid foam: Bangkok cleans hundreds of thousands of krathongs out of its waterways the morning after, and foam is the part that does not go away. Many places now ban it.
2. Buy one locally. Stalls appear on every street corner in the days before the festival. Buying from a neighbourhood vendor is part of the tradition and supports local families.
3. Light the candle and incense first, make a wish or say a quiet thought, and set the krathong gently on the water rather than throwing it.
4. Use the official floating points. At busy piers, volunteers or staff often help. Keep children well back from the edge and watch your footing in the crowd.
5. One per person, or one per couple, is plenty. More is not better for the river.

Sky lanterns and fireworks: know the rules

Sky lanterns (khom loi) are beautiful but dangerous for aircraft, buildings and dry fields. Bangkok bans the release of sky lanterns and the use of fireworks in public, and the penalties can include a heavy fine or prison. Airports across the country, including Chiang Mai, publish restricted times and zones around the festival, and flights have been cancelled or rescheduled in past years because of lanterns. If you want to see lanterns rise, go to an organised, permitted event rather than releasing one yourself.

Practical tips

• Arrive early and keep the evening simple: one riverside spot, dinner nearby, and no tight connections afterwards.
• Traffic around the big riverside sites can stop completely; walking or the river boats are often quicker in Bangkok.
• Dress modestly if your floating point is at a temple, with shoulders and knees covered. See our Bangkok temple dress code guide.
• Keep valuables close in the crowds and carry water.
• If you are in Bangkok the same week, the temples of the old city are a good daytime complement: our Bangkok Cultural Highlights day covers the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun with a licensed guide.

An evening in Ayutthaya

If you prefer ancient temples to city crowds, Ayutthaya is a fine place to be at dusk any evening of the year. Our Ayutthaya at Sunset & Night tour leaves Bangkok at 14:00, visits Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon and Wat Mahathat before they close, and stays for sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram and the ruins lit up after dark, with dinner by the river as a free stop. Around the festival, tell us your date when you enquire and we will check the local programme for you.