Loy Krathong is the night when Thais float small offerings called krathong, usually made of banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense, on rivers, canals and lakes. It falls on the full moon of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which is usually in November; in 2026 that is Tuesday 24 November.
The name means roughly "to float a krathong". People gather at the water's edge after dark, light the candle and incense, make a wish or a quiet prayer, and set the little raft on the water. It is one of the most beautiful evenings of the Thai year, and visitors are welcome to join in. It is not a public holiday: banks and offices open as normal, and the celebrations happen in the evening.
This page explains what the festival means, how the date is worked out, where to see it and how to take part without causing harm. Chiang Mai's lantern festival, Yi Peng, happens on the same days and has its own rules; our guide to Yi Peng in Chiang Mai covers lanterns and ticketed events in detail.
Loy Krathong 2026
- Date
- Tuesday 24 November 2026 (full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month)
- Sukhothai festival
- 15–24 November 2026, Sukhothai Historical Park
- Chiang Mai (Yi Peng)
- 23–25 November 2026, organized by Chiang Mai City Municipality; grand krathong procession on 25 November
- Sky lanterns
- Chiang Mai's Mueang district has asked that no sky lanterns be released in the city area
- Public holiday
- No (not on the Bank of Thailand holiday list)
- Checked
- October 2026
How the date is set by the lunar calendar
Thai religious festivals follow the traditional lunar calendar, not the Western one. Each lunar month runs from new moon to new moon, and Loy Krathong is fixed to the night of the full moon in the twelfth month. That is why the Western date moves by up to several weeks from one year to the next: in 2025 Loy Krathong fell on Wednesday 5 November, while in 2026 it falls on Tuesday 24 November.
The jump in 2026 has a reason. In some years the Thai lunar calendar adds an extra month (a second eighth month) to keep in step with the seasons, and the 2026 holiday dates show that this is one of those years. That pushed the Buddhist holy days later in the year: Asanha Bucha fell on 29 July 2026 instead of early July, and the full moon of the twelfth month moves to late November in the same way. The astronomical full moon on 24 November 2026 falls in the evening, Thai time.
Thai government and Bank of Thailand holiday lists do not include Loy Krathong, so there is no single official notice for the date. The 24 November 2026 date matches the astronomical full moon and Thai calendar publishers, and the Sukhothai festival listed on TAGTHAi, the national tourism platform backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, ends on that day. If you are planning a trip around a later year, check the date close to the time rather than copying it from a website that may be repeating last year's.
Do not trust a Loy Krathong date without a year next to it. Many sites still show "5 November", which was the 2025 date. In 2026 the festival is almost three weeks later, on 24 November.
What Loy Krathong means
The festival has several layers, and Thais themselves explain it in different ways. Many see it as a way of thanking and asking forgiveness of the river goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, for using and polluting the water through the year. Others float a krathong to let go of bad luck, anger or regrets, which drift away with the current. Couples often float one together, and some people add a lock of hair or a nail clipping as a symbol of releasing misfortune, or a coin as an offering.
According to tradition, the custom began in the Sukhothai kingdom in the 13th century, when a court lady named Nang Noppamas made the first lotus-shaped krathong for the king. That story is a legend rather than documented history. It is still the story told at every Loy Krathong, and the Noppamas beauty pageant at many local festivals is named after her.
In northern Thailand the full moon of the twelfth lunar month is also the Lanna festival of Yi Peng (the full moon of the "second month" in the old northern calendar). That is where the lanterns come in: Yi Peng adds paper lanterns hung outside homes and temples, and, traditionally, sky lanterns released into the air.
Where to see Loy Krathong in 2026
Sukhothai
The Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds the most traditional celebration, with candle-lit ruins, performances and krathong floated on the old ponds. In 2026 the Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival runs from 15 to 24 November according to TAGTHAi. Accommodation near the historical park sells out early. Our Sukhothai guide covers getting there and where to stay.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai combines Loy Krathong with Yi Peng from 23 to 25 November 2026, with a grand krathong procession for the royal trophy on 25 November. Krathong are floated on the Ping River, and the old city is lit with lanterns. At a planning meeting in September 2026, Mueang Chiang Mai district asked that sky lanterns must not be released in the city area at all, for the safety of residents and tourists. Respect that. See our Chiang Mai guide for the city itself.
Bangkok
In Bangkok, people float krathong on the Chao Phraya River, on canals and in park lakes. Riverside piers and parks fill up early in the evening, and hotels and dinner cruises run their own events. Our Bangkok guide and the page on the Chao Phraya Express Boat help with getting around; expect crowds and heavy traffic near the river.
Ayutthaya and elsewhere
The old capital of Ayutthaya holds its own festival among the ruins, and almost every town with a river, a canal or a temple pond has a celebration. Phuket, Krabi and the islands mark the night on beaches and lakes too. Small local celebrations are often the most relaxed way to take part.
How to float a krathong respectfully
You can buy a krathong at stalls near any river on the day, or make one at a workshop. A few points make the difference between joining in and getting in the way:
- Choose a natural krathong. Banana trunk, banana leaves, flowers and even bread break down in the water. Avoid foam krathong, which pollute the rivers the festival is meant to honor.
- One per group is enough. Sharing a krathong among a family or couple is common and cuts waste.
- Release it gently, by hand or from the lowest step, and take a moment before you push it off. Making a wish is part of the ritual.
- Mind the water. Piers, riverbanks and steps are slippery and crowded in the dark. Keep children close and do not lean far out.
- Dress modestly if you celebrate at a temple, as many people do; our page on temple etiquette and dress applies.
- Watch your bag. Crowds attract pickpockets, as at any big festival.
Sky lanterns are not part of Loy Krathong everywhere, and in Chiang Mai's city area they are not wanted at all in 2026. Lanterns can come down burning on roofs, trees and power lines. Only release one at an organized event where it is clearly permitted.
Loy Krathong in the Thai festival year
Loy Krathong comes about a month after Ok Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent, and at the start of the cool, dry season in central and northern Thailand. That makes November a good month for a trip that includes Bangkok, Sukhothai and Chiang Mai. For the full calendar, see our pages on public holidays and festivals and Buddhist holy days. Songkran in April, the other big water festival, is a very different, much louder affair; our article on why Thais celebrate Songkran with water explains it.
Frequently asked questions
When is Loy Krathong 2026?
Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. Chiang Mai's Yi Peng festival runs from 23 to 25 November, and Sukhothai's festival from 15 to 24 November 2026.
Is Loy Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?
No. It is not on the Bank of Thailand's list of holidays, so banks, offices and shops open as usual. The celebrations take place in the evening, after work.
What is the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Loy Krathong is the nationwide festival of floating krathong on water. Yi Peng is the northern Lanna festival on the same full moon, known for paper lanterns. In Chiang Mai the two are celebrated together.
Can tourists float a krathong?
Yes, visitors are welcome. Buy a natural krathong made of banana leaves or bread from a stall near the water, light the candle and incense, make a wish and release it gently. Avoid foam krathong.
Sources
- TAGTHAi (Tourism Authority of Thailand platform) – Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Chiang Mai News – Chiang Mai Municipality prepares Yi Peng 2026, 23–25 November (in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Bank of Thailand – Financial institutions' holidays 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Announcement on 2025 events, including the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Loy Krathong festivals (checked October 2026)