Chiang Mai Loy Krathong & Lantern Festival 2026 — Complete Guide

Loy Krathong 2026 Dates in Chiang Mai

Loy Krathong 2026 in Chiang Mai falls on 24–25 November 2026. These are the same full-moon nights on which Chiang Mai also celebrates Yi Peng, the Northern Thai sky lantern festival, so visitors planning a trip around Loy Krathong dates 2026 are, in practice, planning a trip around both festivals at once.

If you are wondering why one city seems to have two festival names attached to the same dates, our guide to what Yi Peng actually is explains the lunar calendar behind it in detail. The short version is below.

Why Chiang Mai Celebrates Both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Together

Loy Krathong is a nationwide Thai festival. Across the country, people build a small decorated basket, or krathong, from natural materials, place a candle and incense inside, and float it on a river, canal, or pond as an offering to Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of water — a way of giving thanks for the water used throughout the year and symbolically letting go of grudges and bad luck.

Yi Peng, by contrast, is a distinctly Northern Thai, or Lanna, tradition centred on releasing sky lanterns rather than floating baskets. It follows the old Lanna lunar calendar, which happens to place its "second month full moon" on the same night as the nationwide Loy Krathong full moon. Because of that calendar overlap, Chiang Mai is one of the only places in Thailand where both festivals land on the same two nights and are celebrated as a single combined event — most of the rest of the country only observes Loy Krathong. You can read the full explanation of the Lanna calendar link in our what is Yi Peng guide.

What Happens During the Festival

Loy Krathong week in Chiang Mai brings the whole city to life. Expect processions and parades through the Old City, with floats, traditional music, and dancers in Lanna dress. Locals and visitors alike spend the evenings making and floating krathong along the riverbanks, and many neighbourhoods and hotels host a Miss Nopamas beauty pageant, a traditional Loy Krathong contest held across Thailand that crowns a young woman as the festival's symbolic representative.

• Parades and processions through the Old City and along the river.
• Krathong-making and floating at riverside spots throughout the city.
• Miss Nopamas pageant, a traditional beauty contest tied to the Loy Krathong festival.
• Fireworks over the Ping River, usually on the main festival nights.
• Sky lantern releases at organised events held outside the city centre.

Where to Float Your Krathong

Anyone asking where to float krathong in Chiang Mai will quickly hear the same handful of names. The Ping River is the natural centrepiece of the city's celebration, with families lining the banks after dark. The area around Nawarat Bridge is one of the busiest and most popular riverside gathering points, with steps down to the water and a lively atmosphere. Closer to the historic centre, the streets and canals near Tha Phae Gate also draw large crowds, since it sits at the heart of the Old City's parade route.

These are well-known public spots rather than ticketed venues, so it's worth arriving early, finding a spot along the water, and joining in with locals who have done this for generations.

How to Make a Krathong (Eco-Friendly)

A traditional krathong is simple to put together and, done properly, leaves nothing harmful behind in the river. Start with a base of banana leaf folded over a slice of banana tree trunk, or a bread-based biodegradable base, instead of styrofoam. Fold the leaves into petal shapes around the edge, add fresh flowers, a few sticks of incense, and a single candle in the centre, then secure everything with wooden picks or thread rather than staples or glue.

This is exactly the spirit behind GLCM's own "No Plastic Zone" policy. Our festival embraces traditional Lanna outdoor dining and decoration using natural materials like banana leaves, ceramics, and bamboo, with no plastic bags, straws, or foam containers anywhere on site. Make a krathong from banana leaf, flowers, and a candle, and you're already following the same principle we apply across the whole GLCM event.

Loy Krathong in the City vs. an Organised Lantern Festival

Both ways of experiencing Loy Krathong week are completely legitimate, and many visitors do both in the same trip: a free evening by the river, plus a ticketed sky lantern release on another night.

Note that releasing your own sky lantern within Chiang Mai city is not permitted for aviation and fire-safety reasons — see our guide to sky lantern releases in Chiang Mai for the full rules. That's the one thing the free riverside celebration cannot offer, and exactly what an organised festival like GLCM is built around.

3-Day Itinerary for Loy Krathong Week in Chiang Mai

• Day 1 — Arrive & Explore. Settle in and wander the Old City. In the evening, join the crowds floating krathong at the Nawarat Bridge area on the Ping River.
• Day 2 — Temples by Day, Lanterns by Night. Visit Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang during the day, then head out to GLCM in Mae Wang District for dinner, a Lanna show, and the sky lantern release.
• Day 3 — Markets & Departure. Slow morning, a last look at the night markets or a Northern Thai meal, then head to the airport with your photos and memories.