Yi Peng and Loy Krathong 2026 in Chiang Mai run from Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 November, with the full-moon night on Tuesday 24 November. They are two different festivals that fall on the same full moon, and Chiang Mai is the one city where you get both at once: lanterns and candles for Yi Peng in the Old City, krathongs floating on the Ping River for Loy Krathong. It is the most beautiful week of the year here, and one of the busiest. This guide covers where to go each night, the rules, and how to get around without getting stuck in traffic.
- 23–25 Nov 2026
- Full moon: Tue 24 Nov
- Parade: Wed 25 Nov (expected)
- CAD release: 24 & 25 Nov
At a glance
- Two festivals: Yi Peng (Lanna lanterns and candles, Old City) and Loy Krathong (floating krathongs, Ping River), celebrated together
- Best free spots: Tha Phae Gate, Three Kings Monument, Wat Phan Tao, Nawarat Bridge and the Iron Bridge
- Ticketed mass lantern release: CAD Khomloy in Mae On, about 30 km from the Old City, 4,900–15,900 THB
- Getting around: a scooter is the quickest way; arrive before 18:00, park on the quieter side and walk the last few hundred meters
- Book early: festival week is one of the busiest weeks for bike rentals in Chiang Mai
Two festivals, one trip
People often use the names as if they were the same thing. They are not: each has its own meaning, its own rituals and its own places. What makes Chiang Mai special is that you can do both in one evening, a 10-minute walk apart.
Loy Krathong
Celebrated across Thailand on the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. You float a krathong, a small raft of banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense, to thank the goddess of water and let go of the past year's bad luck.
Where in Chiang Mai: the Ping River, from Nawarat Bridge to the Iron Bridge.
Photo: YashiWong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Yi Peng
The Lanna festival of the same full moon (the second month, yi, of the old northern calendar; peng means full moon). It is about light as an offering to the Buddha: hanging lanterns (khom khwaen), candles (phang prathip) and sky lanterns (khom loi).
Where in Chiang Mai: the Old City temples, Tha Phae Gate and the ticketed mass releases outside the city.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Night by night: Yi Peng 2026
- From about 20 NovemberLanterns go up across the Old City and around the moat; temples start lighting candles in the evening.
- Monday 23 NovemberOpening night: lantern displays, candles on the temple grounds and the old city walls, the first krathongs on the river, markets and stages around Tha Phae Gate.
- Tuesday 24 November · full moonThe main night of both festivals: Loy Krathong on the Ping River, the biggest crowds in the Old City, sky lanterns in permitted areas, first night of the CAD mass release.
- Wednesday 25 NovemberThe grand krathong parade (expected; in 2025 it left Tha Phae Gate at 18:30) and the second night of the CAD release.
Yi Peng: lanterns and candles in the Old City
All of these are free. The Old City is compact, so park once and walk between them.
Tha Phae Gate and the Three Kings Monument
Tha Phae Gate gets stages, lantern arches and food stalls, and the parade starts here. The Three Kings Monument, 1 km west in the middle of the Old City, has lantern displays and cultural shows. On 24 November arrive before 18:00; by 19:30 the square is shoulder to shoulder.
Photo: Maurice Gerhardt / Unsplash
Wat Phan Tao and Wat Chedi Luang
The teak temple of Wat Phan Tao, next door to Wat Chedi Luang, fills its garden and pond with colorful lanterns and candles, and monks light them at dusk. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Lok Moli are decorated too. These are working temples: dress modestly, keep your voice down and never step over the candles for a photo.
Photo: YveHa / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tap a photo to open the gallery (6). Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC0); FredTC / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Takeaway / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); Maurice Gerhardt / Unsplash; Rob King / Unsplash; Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
Loy Krathong: floating a krathong on the Ping River
Buy a krathong from one of the stalls along the river (from about 50 THB; choose one made of banana trunk or bread, not foam), light the candle and incense, make a wish and set it on the water from the steps or small piers. Riverside steps between Nawarat Bridge and the Iron Bridge (Saphan Lek) are the busiest and most atmospheric; they get very crowded on the 24th, so hold on to your phone and your children.
Choose an eco krathong. The traditional krathong is made of a slice of banana trunk, folded banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense, and it breaks down in the water. You will also find krathongs made of bread, which the fish eat. Foam krathongs are discouraged: they pollute the river for months. The morning after, the city clears thousands of krathongs from the Ping, and Thai campaigns ask for one krathong per family or couple to keep the river clean.
Tap a photo to open the gallery (9). Photos: YashiWong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); John Shedrick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); John Shedrick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Jonathan144 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Visions of Domino / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); Wikimedia Commons (CC0); Megan Smith / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); FredTC / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Nawarat Bridge
The main bridge into the Old City side and the best free viewpoint over the river, with krathongs below and lanterns above.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
The Iron Bridge (Saphan Lek)
The old iron footbridge a few hundred meters downstream is strung with lanterns and has easier access to the water. A good choice with children.
Photo: Maurice Gerhardt / Unsplash
The grand krathong parade
Giant illuminated krathong floats built by districts, schools, companies and even consulates, with dancers in Lanna and hill-tribe costumes and drum bands. The parade traditionally leaves Tha Phae Gate in the early evening of the last night and follows Tha Phae Road towards the river and the city municipality office. Find a spot along Tha Phae Road by 18:00.
Tap a photo to open the gallery (8). Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC0); Wikimedia Commons (CC0); Farida Tania / Unsplash; Farida Tania / Unsplash; Farida Tania / Unsplash; Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Farida Tania / Unsplash.
Sky lanterns: the rules
Sky lanterns are beautiful, but they are also a fire and air-traffic risk, and the rules get stricter every year:
- Only at permitted times and places. For Yi Peng 2025, Chiang Mai province banned sky lanterns and fireworks in six districts, including Mueang Chiang Mai (the city), except in zones approved by the district, and only between 19:00 and 01:00 on the festival nights. Similar rules are expected for 2026; they are announced in October.
- Fines are serious: up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 THB.
- Flights are affected. Chiang Mai Airport stops flights during the lantern hours. For Yi Peng 2025, 161 flights were cancelled or rescheduled and the last departure on festival nights was at 19:00. If you fly around 23–25 November, check your flight time.
- Never release lanterns near the airport, power lines or dry trees, or on other days.
Not sure where it is allowed? Float a krathong instead, watch the lanterns from the bridges, or join a ticketed event where everything is organized.
The ticketed mass release: CAD Khomloy
The famous photos of thousands of lanterns rising at the same moment come from ticketed events outside the city. The largest is the CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival at the CAD Cultural Center Lanna in Mae On district, about 30 km east of the Old City.
- Dates: 24 and 25 November 2026.
- Tickets: 4,900–15,900 THB by zone, including transfer from the city, dinner, a cultural program and lanterns. Tickets carry your name: bring your passport.
- Schedule: shuttles leave the city at about 13:00–14:30, the synchronized release is at about 20:15, the event ends around 21:00.
- Buy only from the official website or large booking platforms: look-alike sites and resold tickets appear every year.
Tap a photo to open the gallery (5). Photos: Carlos Adampol Galindo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); ManoiCMU / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Naro K / Pexels; Naro K / Pexels; Carlos Adampol Galindo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
CAD festival venue → · CMECC shuttle point → · MAYA shuttle point →
Getting around by scooter during the festival
During Yi Peng, Grab and Bolt prices surge, red songthaews are full after 22:00 and cars crawl around the moat. A scooter slips through all of that and lets you do the Old City temples, the river and a late dinner in one evening, as long as you plan where to leave it:
- Arrive early. Get into the Old City before 17:30–18:00. After 19:00 the moat road and the east side are jammed.
- Park on the quieter side. The east side (Tha Phae Gate, Loi Kroh Road, Nawarat Bridge) is the busiest. Park on the north or west side and walk in.
- Use proper parking. Not on the parade route, bridges or in front of the gates: police lock or move bikes left there. Take a photo of where you parked.
- Lock the steering and keep your helmets with you or locked to the bike.
- Do not drink and ride. The limit is 0.05% blood alcohol (lower for new drivers), and police set up checkpoints on festival nights. Take a Grab home and pick up the bike in the morning.
- Carry your license. Checkpoints also check licenses and helmets. See riding legally in Thailand.
- Ride slowly after dark: pedestrians step into the road, and burning lanterns sometimes come down.
| From | Tha Phae Gate | Wat Phan Tao | Nawarat Bridge | CMECC (CAD shuttle) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old City | — | 1.5 km | 2 km | 10 km |
| Nimman | 6.5 km | 6 km | 6.5 km | 5 km |
Road distances. On festival evenings allow 15–25 minutes for any ride across town.
Which bike for festival week?
For the city, a light 125 cc scooter such as the Yamaha Fino, Fazzio or Grand Filano is perfect: easy to park in a tight row and to push through a crowd. If you plan longer rides during your stay, ride two up, or want to go up Doi Suthep or to the flower fields in December, take a 150–160 cc scooter such as the Honda Click 160 or Yamaha NMax.
Book your bike early
Yi Peng is the start of the high season, and festival week is one of the busiest weeks of the year for bike rentals. Many shops run out of scooters, especially the popular 125–160 cc models. Reserve before you arrive: with Fleet CNX reserving is free and you pay at pickup.
- Scooters from 250 THB/day or 1,300 THB/week, see all prices.
- 2 helmets and a phone holder included.
- Delivery to your hotel: 200 THB within 3 km of the city center; to Chiang Mai Airport: 200 THB each way. With the evening flight restrictions, tell us your new arrival time and we will adjust.
Where to ride after the festival
Late November is the start of the cool, dry season: the best weather of the year for riding.
- Doi Suthep: the golden temple on the mountain, 15 km from the city. See our Doi Suthep route.
- Mae Rim and the Mae Sa Valley: quiet roads and waterfalls. See our Mae Rim route.
- Pai: the famous 762-curve ride for experienced riders. See our Chiang Mai to Pai guide.
- Flower season: from late November the winter flower shows and mountain blooms begin. See our Chiang Mai flower season guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is Yi Peng 2026 in Chiang Mai?
From Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 November 2026. The main night, the full moon, is Tuesday 24 November.
Are Yi Peng and Loy Krathong the same festival?
No. Loy Krathong (floating krathongs on water) is celebrated all over Thailand; Yi Peng (lanterns and candles) is the northern Lanna festival. They fall on the same full moon, and Chiang Mai celebrates both together, so one trip gives you both.
Where can I release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai?
Only in zones and at times approved by the authorities, announced every year in October; in 2025 that was 19:00–01:00 on the festival nights. The simplest legal option is a ticketed event such as CAD Khomloy.
Can I ride my scooter to the CAD lantern festival?
Most CAD tickets include a shuttle from the city, so you usually ride only to the pick-up point (CMECC or Maya mall). The venue itself is about 30 km from the Old City.
Are flights affected during Yi Peng?
Yes. Chiang Mai Airport stops evening flights during the lantern hours, and many flights are cancelled or moved (161 in 2025). Check your flight time if you travel on 23–25 November.
Can I rent a scooter just for the festival?
Yes, from one day. Most visitors take a scooter for the whole week: it costs less per day and you can ride to Doi Suthep or Mae Rim afterwards.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Festival programmes, parade times and lantern rules are confirmed by the Chiang Mai authorities each year; we will update this page when the 2026 details are published. Cover photo: Carlos Adampol Galindo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Riding to Yi Peng?
Scooters from 250 THB/day with 2 helmets and a phone holder. Festival week books out: reserve for free, pay at pickup.
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