Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November. That evening, Bangkok residents float krathong, small rafts of banana leaf, flowers, incense and a candle, on the Chao Phraya River, park lakes and temple canals. The festival lasts one night.
Plan two things before you go: when you reach the water, and how you get back to your hotel afterwards.
When is Loy Krathong 2026?
Loy Krathong 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon night of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar. The date moves every year with the moon. In 2027 it falls on Saturday 13 November. Plan around three facts about the date:
- It is not a public holiday. Offices, schools and banks stay open, so the evening commute overlaps with people heading to the river.
- Riverside programs often start a few days earlier. In 2025 the Bangkok River Festival ran for three nights, ending on Loy Krathong night.
- Organisers publish full programs in late October. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) published its 2025 lineup on 28 October.
If you are flying in, aim to land by 23 November. A pre-booked Bangkok airport transfer gets you to your hotel before the festival night traffic builds.
Is Loy Krathong the same as Yi Peng?
No. Loy Krathong is a national festival where people float krathong on rivers, canals and ponds. Yi Peng is a northern Lanna festival built around releasing paper sky lanterns, and its best-known celebrations are in Chiang Mai.
The two fall in the same week, and in Chiang Mai they overlap. In 2026, Yi Peng runs 24 to 25 November. Bangkok celebrates on the water. If sky lantern photos drew you to Thailand in November, book Chiang Mai.
Can tourists join Loy Krathong?
Yes. Loy Krathong is a public festival, and you can buy a krathong and float it alongside Thai families. You do not need to be Buddhist, speak Thai or join a tour.
The festival has religious roots. Thais float krathong to thank and ask forgiveness of Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of water, and to let go of bad luck and grudges from the past year. Many celebrations take place at temples, where people also pray and make merit.
Food stalls, music and funfairs fill the venues, but many Thais treat the floating itself as a private moment. Keep your voice down at the water’s edge and give people room.
Do you need to pay to join Loy Krathong in Bangkok?
No. Most Loy Krathong events in Bangkok are free to enter. You pay only for your krathong, food, and any ticketed dinner or cruise.
| Experience | Cost |
| BMA parks and district events | Free entry |
| Temple celebrations and fairs | Free entry; donations welcome |
| Public areas at Asiatique and ICONSIAM | Free entry |
| Krathong from a street vendor | Small purchase; price rises with size and decoration |
| Riverside hotel Loy Krathong dinners | Around 1,900 to 2,000 baht per adult in past years |
| Chao Phraya dinner cruises | Paid; prices vary by operator, book ahead |
Best places to celebrate Loy Krathong in Bangkok
Riverside venues draw the biggest shows and the biggest crowds. City parks are calmer and easier to leave, and canal and temple sites sit in between.
| Spot | Setting | Crowd level | Best for |
| Asiatique The Riverfront | Riverside boardwalk, Charoen Krung | Very high | First-timers, dinner and shopping |
| ICONSIAM River Park | Riverside mall, Thonburi bank | Very high | Families who want facilities |
| Wat Arun and Tha Tien | Temple riverfront, old town | High | Temple views and culture |
| Rama VIII Bridge, Thonburi side | BMA’s official festival site in 2025 | High | Cultural shows, local crowd |
| Santi Chai Prakan Park | Small riverside park, Phra Arthit | Medium to high | Old town evening |
| Lumpini Park | Lake park, city centre | Medium | Easy access, families |
| Benjakitti Park | Lake park, Asok | Medium | A calmer float |
Along the Chao Phraya River
In 2025 the Bangkok River Festival ran across nine piers: Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Rakhang, Wat Kalayanamit, Wat Prayurawongsawat, Tha Maharaj, Asiatique The Riverfront, Sooksiam at ICONSIAM and Khlong Prem Prachakorn. Most sites opened from 4pm, with the final night running until midnight. Expect a similar riverside spread in 2026.
Asiatique’s boardwalk and ICONSIAM’s River Park host the largest commercial events. The BMA’s own Bangkok Loy Krathong Festival in 2025 took place on the Thonburi side of Rama VIII Bridge, with cultural shows and a krathong-making contest. Wat Arun ran its own evening celebration from 5pm to 10pm.
You lose the most time at riverside venues, on the way in and on the way out. Arrive before 6pm and set your pickup time before you leave the hotel.
In Bangkok’s city parks
In 2025 the BMA opened 33 public parks across 21 districts for krathong floating until midnight. Central options included Lumpini, Benjakitti, Benjasiri, Chatuchak Park, Rot Fai Park, Santi Chai Prakan, Saranrom and Rommaninat.
Flat paths and short walks from the road make parks the easier choice for young children and older relatives.
Temple fairs, canals and walking streets
The Golden Mount at Wat Saket hosts a temple fair around Loy Krathong, with funfair rides and food stalls. Ong Ang Walking Street, along a restored canal near Chinatown, holds a free and more relaxed celebration. Smaller community events run along Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem and Khlong Prem Prachakorn.
At Sooksiam inside ICONSIAM, visitors can dress in traditional Thai costume and float a krathong at the indoor floating market, a useful option if it rains.
On a dinner cruise
Several Chao Phraya dinner cruises sell Loy Krathong packages from the ICONSIAM and Asiatique piers. You get a clear view from the boat, but every passenger disembarks at the same pier at the same time, so book your ride home before you board.
What to wear for Loy Krathong
Wear light clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, with closed shoes that grip. Many Loy Krathong venues are temples or sit beside them, so temple dress covers you for the whole evening.
- Tops. T-shirts or blouses with sleeves. Avoid tank tops and see-through fabrics.
- Bottoms. Long trousers, long skirts or knee-length shorts at a minimum. Skip beachwear.
- Shoes. Flat, closed shoes or sturdy sandals. Pier steps and riverbanks get wet and crowded.
- Thai dress. Many Thais wear traditional outfits on Loy Krathong night, and visitors are welcome to do the same.
Late November is the start of Bangkok’s cooler, drier season, but evenings by the river still feel warm and humid. Choose breathable fabrics over layers.
What to prepare before you go
- Small cash notes for your krathong, food stalls and boat fares
- A natural krathong, or a plan to buy one near the venue
- A lighter for the candle and incense
- Phone charged, plus a power bank
- Insect repellent for the water’s edge
- A compact umbrella, since this year’s rainy season has run long
- A meeting point agreed with your group, and your driver’s number and pickup pin saved
- For children, a card with your phone number in their pocket
- Dinner or cruise reservations made, if you want one
How to float a krathong, step by step
- Buy a krathong made of banana leaf or other natural material from a vendor near the water.
- Wait your turn at the water’s edge or the designated floating platform.
- Light the candle and incense sticks.
- Hold the krathong, make a silent wish, or quietly ask the water goddess for forgiveness. Some Thais add a small coin, a strand of hair or a fingernail clipping as a symbol of letting go.
- Lower it gently onto the water. Do not throw it.
- Step back so the next person can float theirs.
Many Thais believe that if your candle stays lit until the krathong drifts out of sight, you will have a good year. Couples often float one krathong together.
Dos and don’ts on the night
- Do queue patiently at the water and keep children close to the edge.
- Do ask before photographing someone in the middle of a prayer.
- Do remove your shoes before entering temple halls.
- Don’t touch, move or take other people’s krathong.
- Don’t lean over pier edges or climb barriers to push your krathong further out.
- Don’t release sky lanterns or set off fireworks. Bangkok’s event organisers do not allow them, and Suvarnabhumi Airport asks the public not to release lanterns, balloons or fireworks nearby because of the risk to aircraft.
- Don’t use foam or bread krathong. The BMA asks for natural materials.
City crews collected 391,027 krathong after the 2025 festival, about 24 percent fewer than in 2024, and 82.76 percent were made of natural materials. Another 23,347 people floated a krathong online through the BMA’s digital option.
Do roads close during Loy Krathong?
Police rarely close roads citywide for Loy Krathong. Expect local traffic controls around the major riverside venues and heavy congestion on approach roads from late afternoon. Traffic police publish venue-specific arrangements a few days before the festival, so check them on 22 or 23 November. Plan around these patterns:
- Arrivals peak from about 6pm to 8pm, and departures from about 9:30pm to 11pm.
- Piers near event sites fill fast, and boat queues build once the main programs finish.
- Ride-hailing fares rise with demand, and pickups right at venue gates are slow.
- BMA parks stayed open until midnight in 2025, which gives late arrivals a fallback.
If you are in Bangkok for the whole of November, note one more river date. The Royal Barge Procession for the royal Kathin ceremony takes place on Friday 6 November 2026, along the river between Rama VIII Bridge and Wat Arun, with full rehearsals on 21 and 28 October. It is a separate event, but expect river traffic controls on those days.
How to get around Bangkok during Loy Krathong crowds
Take the BTS or MRT close to your venue and walk the last stretch, or book a private van with a pickup point set away from the crowds. The trains run on schedule, but you lose time on the final kilometre to the river and on the trip home.
| Option | Works well for | Where it breaks down |
| BTS or MRT plus walking | Solo travellers and couples | Stations near the river pack out after events; long walks for children and older travellers |
| Chao Phraya boats | Hopping between piers before dark | Queues at piers after programs end |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | Short trips away from venues | Surge fares, cancellations, slow pickups near crowds |
| Private van with driver | Families, groups, evenings with several stops | Needs a pickup point agreed in advance |
Visitors hit the same problem at Songkran, when getting between areas took longer than the events. Our Songkran Bangkok logistics playbook covers the meetup and pickup habits that work for both festivals.
Why a private van works for a night event
- Your group arrives and leaves together, with no splitting across two taxis and searching for each other at a crowded gate.
- You choose the pickup point. A side street a short walk away beats queuing at the main gate.
- You can combine stops, floating early at a quiet park and then moving to the river for dinner.
- The van waits for you at a fixed price, even at 10pm with tired children.
Book a private car or van with driver in Bangkok for a half or full day and share your venue when you book. Your driver will plan a drop-off and pickup point away from the main crowd. To match the vehicle to your group size, see our Bangkok van size guide.
A sample Loy Krathong evening
- 5:00pm. Pickup from your hotel.
- 5:30pm. Float your krathong at Lumpini or Benjakitti Park while it is still quiet.
- 6:45pm. Drive to the river for dinner near ICONSIAM, Asiatique or Wat Arun.
- 9:30pm. Walk to your agreed pickup point before the main crowd leaves.
- 10:30pm. Back at your hotel.
Celebrating Loy Krathong beyond Bangkok
Bangkok is the most convenient base, but several other cities hold larger or more traditional celebrations.
- Ayutthaya. In 2025 the old capital held Maha Loi Krathong at Wat Phra Ram inside the historical park. It is around 1.5 hours by road, so an evening there works as a Bangkok to Ayutthaya day trip with a late return.
- Sukhothai. Thais call it the birthplace of the festival, and it hosts a multi-day Loy Krathong and candle festival at the historical park. Treat it as an overnight trip.
- Chiang Mai. The place for Yi Peng sky lanterns, on 24 and 25 November 2026.
- Tak. Locals hold Loy Krathong Sai here, floating long lines of small lamps down the Ping River.
For other events through the year, see our Thailand festival calendar, or browse day trips from Bangkok for the days around the festival.
Frequently asked questions
When is Loy Krathong 2026?
Loy Krathong 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. Some riverside events in Bangkok start a few days earlier.
Is Loy Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?
No. Offices, schools and banks stay open on Loy Krathong, so expect normal rush-hour traffic on top of festival crowds.
Where is the best place to see Loy Krathong in Bangkok?
For the full spectacle, the Chao Phraya riverfront around Asiatique, ICONSIAM and Wat Arun. For a calmer float, BMA parks such as Lumpini and Benjakitti, which stayed open until midnight in 2025.
Is Loy Krathong the same as Yi Peng?
No. Loy Krathong involves floating krathong on water across Thailand. Yi Peng involves releasing sky lanterns, mainly in Chiang Mai. Both fall in the same week.
Can tourists take part in Loy Krathong?
Yes. Anyone can buy a krathong and float it at public venues. You do not need to be Buddhist or join a tour.
Is Loy Krathong a religious festival?
It has religious roots. Thais float krathong to honour and ask forgiveness of the water goddess, and many events take place at temples. The atmosphere is festive, but dress and behave as you would at a temple.
Do I need to pay to join Loy Krathong in Bangkok?
No. Parks, temples and public riverside areas are free to enter. You pay for your krathong, food, and any dinner or cruise you book.
What should I wear to Loy Krathong?
Light clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and closed, flat shoes. Many venues are temples, and piers can be wet.
Can I release sky lanterns in Bangkok?
No. Bangkok’s Loy Krathong events do not allow sky lanterns or fireworks, and airports ask the public not to release them because of the risk to aircraft. For lanterns, go to Chiang Mai’s organised Yi Peng events.
What time should I arrive?
Arrive before 6pm. Riverside programs open from late afternoon, and the biggest crowds build between 6pm and 8pm.
Can I float a krathong online?
Yes. The BMA offers a digital krathong option, and 23,347 people used it in 2025.
Do roads close during Loy Krathong?
Not citywide. Expect local traffic controls and heavy congestion near major riverside venues from late afternoon. Police announce specific arrangements a few days before the festival.
How do I get around Bangkok during Loy Krathong crowds?
Use the BTS or MRT to get close and walk the last stretch, or book a private van with a pickup point away from the crowds. Avoid relying on hailing a car at venue gates after 9pm.
Plan your Loy Krathong night
Pick your venue once organisers announce programs in late October, arrive before 6pm, dress for a temple, and book your ride home before you leave the hotel. Book a private van for Loy Krathong night and spend the evening at the river.