Yi Peng 2026 falls on 24 November, timed to the full moon of the twelfth month in the traditional Lanna calendar. It runs alongside Loy Krathong, the Thailand-wide festival of floating offerings, so the city is effectively marking two overlapping traditions across several days rather than a single evening. Expect lead-up events, temple ceremonies and processions in the days before, with 24 November itself being the peak for both the sky lanterns associated with Yi Peng and the krathongs set adrift on the rivers and moats for Loy Krathong.
Because the date is set by the lunar calendar, it moves every year, and hotel and ticket demand builds well ahead of it, not just in the final week.
The image that draws people to Yi Peng, thousands of paper lanterns released into the sky at the same moment, is not something that happens spontaneously across the old city. Releasing sky lanterns within Chiang Mai's central area is restricted, partly for fire safety and partly because the timing coincides with flight paths into Chiang Mai International Airport; the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has in past years imposed no-fly or lantern-restriction periods around the festival. The mass, synchronised releases seen in photographs are commercially organised, ticketed events held at specific venues outside the city, and they need to be booked well in advance.
Staying inside or near the old city moat puts you within walking distance of temple ceremonies, the Loy Krathong processions and the general atmosphere of the festival, but it also means dealing with road closures and heavier foot traffic in the evenings. Areas along the river tend to be busiest on the night itself, since krathongs are floated there, so rooms with a river view are booked out earliest and at a premium. If your main goal is a ticketed mass lantern release outside the city, it is worth checking how the venue's transport arrangements work before committing to a hotel, since some events include transfers and others do not.
Whatever the location, book earlier than you would for an ordinary Chiang Mai trip. Rooms across the city fill up for this period, and last-minute availability at reasonable rates becomes scarce well before November.
Find a hotel in Chiang MaiCompare stays for the event datesChiang Mai International Airport handles domestic flights from Bangkok and other Thai cities as well as a number of international routes. During the festival period, be aware that flight schedules can be affected by temporary airspace restrictions tied to lantern releases, so it is worth checking your flight status in the days before travel rather than assuming a normal schedule. From the airport, taxis and ride-hailing apps are the simplest way into the city.
Compare flights to Chiang MaiSearch dates around the eventSettle in and get a feel for the old city on a quieter day. Visit one or two temples that hold Yi Peng decorations and lantern displays in the run-up to the main event, and check the schedule for any evening processions.
Many of the smaller, community-organised lantern releases and temple ceremonies happen in the days before the main date. This is also a good day to buy krathong-making materials or join a workshop if you want to float your own offering rather than buy one ready-made.
If you have a ticket to a mass lantern release, factor in transport time to the venue and arrival well before the scheduled release, since access and seating are typically managed in stages. If you are staying in the city, head to the riverside or moat areas in the evening for Loy Krathong, where the atmosphere builds through the night with music, food stalls and the sight of thousands of small lights on the water.
Mobile data matters more than usual during Yi Peng because so much of the useful information, ticket entry times, venue transport updates, road closures, changes to flight schedules, is distributed at short notice rather than fixed weeks in advance. Having data on arrival means you can check festival social media channels and transport apps in real time rather than relying on hotel wifi or guesswork once you are out in the crowds.
eSIM for your tripInstall now, connects when you landThey overlap in date and location but are distinct traditions. Loy Krathong, celebrated across Thailand, involves floating decorated offerings on water. Yi Peng is a Lanna (northern Thai) festival centred on sky lanterns. In Chiang Mai the two are celebrated together, which is why the city's festival feels larger than Loy Krathong alone elsewhere in the country.
No. Temple displays, smaller community releases and the general atmosphere of lit lanterns around the old city are free to see. A ticket is only needed for the large, organised mass releases at specific venues outside the city.
No. Thailand is outside the EU/EEA framework, so EU citizens need a valid passport to enter, along with meeting any visa or visa-exemption conditions that apply to their nationality.
Well ahead of the festival, ideally as soon as tickets go on sale, since the well-known events have limited capacity and a strong track record of selling out.
No. It follows the lunar calendar and shifts from year to year, which is why checking the specific date for 2026 rather than assuming a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar matters when booking flights and hotels.
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