Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, November 24, and Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng lantern festival runs November 23 to 25. Sky lanterns can only be released on the nights of November 24 and 25, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., at permitted sites outside the city. Because of that, Chiang Mai International Airport is cutting its operating hours on those nights, and airlines have already cancelled 108 flights and retimed 80 between November 21 and 28. If you’re flying in for the festival, here’s what to know before you book.

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng 2026 Dates at a Glance

Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirms that this year’s full moon falls on November 24, with events spread across the country between November 15 and 29. In the north, the same full moon is celebrated as Yi Peng, the Lanna festival of lights best known for its glowing sky lanterns.

• Monday, Nov. 23: Chiang Mai’s municipal Yi Peng festival begins. No lantern releases are allowed anywhere.
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: Loy Krathong night. Daytime smoke lanterns are allowed from 10 a.m. to noon, and sky lanterns from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at permitted sites.
• Wednesday, Nov. 25: The grand krathong procession in Chiang Mai, plus a second sky lantern window from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 26: The festival is over once the last window closes at 1 a.m.

Why Chiang Mai Flights Are Being Cancelled

Sky lanterns are a real hazard for aircraft engines, and more than 200,000 sky lanterns and smoke lanterns are expected to be released inside the airport’s aviation safety zone, according to the airport’s general manager, Group Captain Sakan Udol, speaking to Nation Thailand.

Airlines have been asked not to operate from 10 a.m. to noon on November 24, and from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the nights of November 24 and 25. That shrinks the airport’s usual operating day from about 20 hours to about 12.

How many flights are affected

As of October 30, airlines had adjusted their schedules for November 21 to 28 by cancelling 108 flights, retiming 80 and adding 105 extra services. The airport still expects about 210 flights a day during the festival, with a possible peak of 232, roughly 10% more than a normal day. The catch is that those flights are squeezed into fewer hours, so terminals, check-in lines and security will be busier than usual.

What the airport is asking travelers to do

• Check your flight status with your airline before every trip between November 21 and 28, because times may change or flights may be cancelled.
• Arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one.
• Have documents and bags ready, and check the rules on liquids, gels and aerosols to get through screening faster.

For arrivals, the airport says Airport Limousine, Airport Taxi Meter, the Airport Shuttle Bus and RTC City Bus will run a combined total of about 1,280 trips a day, with around 2,500 Grab vehicles and nine car hire operators also available.

Sky Lantern Rules in Chiang Mai for 2026

The lantern rules are stricter than many first-time visitors expect. Chiang Mai Province set them at an October 7 preparation meeting, and they’ve been summarized by travel guides such as Alvin Travel and eSIM Lounge, citing local reports:

• Two nights only: Sky lanterns and fireworks are allowed only on November 24 and 25, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Not in the city: Mueang Chiang Mai district, which covers the old city and the riverside, has asked that no sky lanterns be released in the city area at all.
• No-release red zones: Releases are strictly banned along aircraft take-off and landing paths near the airport.
• Approved lanterns: Lanterns must meet the Thai community product standard and stay airborne no more than seven minutes.
• No firecrackers: Attaching firecrackers to lanterns is strictly prohibited.
• Smoke lanterns: These daytime lanterns are allowed only on November 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.

In practice, that means the famous photos of thousands of lanterns rising at once come from organized, ticketed events outside the city. Inside Chiang Mai, the way to join in is to float a krathong on the Ping River and enjoy the lights, parades and lamp-lit temples.

Where to See the Lanterns and Celebrate

Chiang Mai

The city’s own Yi Peng festival, with Lanna performances, traditional lamp lighting and the grand krathong procession on November 25, is free to watch. For a mass lantern release, TAT lists the CAD KhomLoi Sky Lanterns Festival on November 24 and 25 at the CAD Cultural Center Lanna in Mae On district. Paid lantern events are popular and many look-alike websites claim to be official, so double-check that any event you book matches the legal dates and times and is held outside the city before you pay.

Elsewhere in Thailand

If you’d rather skip the Chiang Mai crowds, TAT’s 2026 calendar includes plenty of alternatives:

• Sukhothai: The Loi Krathong, Candlelight and Fireworks Festival at Sukhothai Historical Park, November 15 to 24.
• Bangkok: Celebrations along the Rattanakosin waterways from November 17 to 29, including Rama VIII Bridge, Phra Sumen Fort and Maha Kan Fort.
• Tak: The 1,000 Floating Krathongs Festival, November 21 to 24.
• Chiang Rai: Yi Peng Chiang Saen on the Mekong, November 20 to 24.
• Phuket: Loy Krathong by the Sea at Saphan Hin, November 16 to 25.

If you’re building a longer trip around the festival, our guide to exploring Asia and our list of Southeast Asia’s hidden gems have more ideas.

How to Plan Your Trip Around the Festival

• Fly in early, fly out late: Aim to land on November 23 or earlier in the day on November 24, and leave on November 26, so you don’t depend on a flight during the closed evening windows.
• Book a flexible ticket: Schedules are still being shuffled, so a fare you can change without heavy fees is worth a little extra.
• Consider other routes: Flying into another northern city or taking an overnight train or bus can be a backup if Chiang Mai flights are full.
• Book a room early: Festival week is one of Chiang Mai’s busiest times of the year.
• Check your cover: Make sure your policy handles schedule changes and cancellations. Our travel insurance tips explain what to look for.
• Be a good guest: Choose a krathong made of natural materials like banana trunk and leaves, and follow the lantern rules wherever you are.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Loy Krathong 2026?

Loy Krathong is on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. Many cities hold events for several days around that date.

When can you release lanterns in Chiang Mai in 2026?

Only on November 24 and 25, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., at permitted sites outside the city and away from the airport’s red zones. Smoke lanterns are allowed on November 24 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Is Chiang Mai airport closed during Yi Peng?

Not fully. Airlines have been asked to avoid operating from 10 a.m. to noon on November 24 and from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on November 24 and 25. Flights run outside those windows, but schedules are tighter.

Is my Chiang Mai flight cancelled?

Airlines had cancelled 108 flights and retimed 80 for November 21 to 28 as of October 30. Check your booking or contact your airline, since changes may still come.

Do I need a ticket for Yi Peng?

Chiang Mai’s city events and krathong floating are free. Only private mass-release events, such as the one in Mae On, require a paid ticket.

Featured image: Yi Peng lanterns in Chiang Mai by Nik Cyclist, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped.