Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong is held across Thailand on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. People gather in the evening at rivers, canals, lakes and the sea to float a krathong, a small raft traditionally made from banana leaves or banana stalk and decorated with flowers, incense and a candle. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) describes it as a way of thanking the goddess of the water, Phra Mae Khongkha, worshipping the Buddha, and releasing worries and bad fortune into the water. Some celebrations also hold a ceremony asking Phra Mae Khongkha for forgiveness and a blessing. TAT also notes other stories of the festival's origins: some say the krathongs honour the Buddha, and another tradition traces it to Noppamat, a lady of the Sukhothai court said to be the first to float a raft on the city's canals.

Sukhothai

This page centres on Sukhothai, where the festival is called Loy Krathong, Phao Thian, Len Fai (floating krathongs, burning candles and playing with fire). The organisers point to Sukhothai's first stone inscription, which records crowds coming into the city to watch the candle and fire celebrations more than 700 years ago. The festival is still held in the old city, now Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the ruins are lit with thousands of small oil lamps.

This edition

The 2026 festival runs for ten nights, from 15 to 24 November 2026, with a light-and-sound show at Wat Mahathat at 19:00 every night and an extra show at 20:30 on 24 November. The opening day on 15 November has a royal procession and cultural parades from Sukhothai's nine districts. Loy Krathong night itself is 24 November, with the ceremony of floating the royal lantern. In the north, Chiang Mai celebrates the same full moon as Yi Peng, from 23 to 25 November 2026.

• Light-and-sound show at Wat Mahathat: nightly at 19:00 from 15 to 24 November 2026, with more than 300 performers and the historic monuments as the set.
• Traditional fireworks: Sukhothai-style rockets, spinning fireworks and fountains made by a local fireworks team that has kept the craft going since 1977. The organisers say this is the part of the festival most people wait for.
• Processions and krathong contests: the royal procession and parades from nine districts on 15 November, and contests for large and small krathongs and for hoisted and hanging lanterns.
• Nang Noppamat contest: three rounds at the open-air theatre, on 18, 20 and 22 November 2026 at 19:30.
• Yi Peng in Chiang Mai: 23–25 November 2026, with the city decorated with traditional arches, phang prathip oil lamps, a Lanna lantern contest, a Tang Tham Luang sermon, krathong floating and traditional lantern releases on 24 and 25 November.

• Old Sukhothai (Mueang Kao): the village around the historical park, so you can walk to the festival grounds at night.
• New Sukhothai town: about 12 km from the park, with the bus station; during the festival, free songthaew trucks run from the bus station to the park between 16:00 and 24:00.
• Phitsanulok: about 71 km away by road, with an airport and the nearest railway station to Sukhothai.
• Chiang Mai: if you are going for Yi Peng (23–25 November 2026) instead, stay in the city; it is about 285 km from Sukhothai by road.

Flights to Thailand from the UK: TAT says Thai Airways and EVA Air between them fly 21 times a week from London Heathrow to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok's main international airport. British Airways, TUI and Norse Atlantic run seasonal flights to Bangkok and Phuket from London Gatwick and Manchester. Virgin Atlantic flies London Heathrow to Phuket three times a week during the 2026–27 UK winter season.

To Sukhothai: the festival organisers list Bangkok Airways flights from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Sukhothai Airport (THS), about 1 hour 20 minutes, then about 41 km by road to the park. You can also fly from Don Mueang (DMK) to Phitsanulok (PHS) and drive about 80 km. Grab cars can be booked in Sukhothai province, including at Sukhothai Airport. Buses run several times a day from Bangkok's Mo Chit 2 terminal to Sukhothai bus station. There is no railway station in Sukhothai: take the train to Phitsanulok and continue by bus. By car, Sukhothai is about 430 km from Bangkok and about 285 km from Chiang Mai.

Getting around during the festival: from Sukhothai town, Route 12 runs about 12 km to the park. During the festival, songthaew trucks from the bus station run 16:00–24:00 and are free. Free shuttles also run every 20 minutes, 16:00–24:00, from two car parks: behind the Sinvana shop and the Lithai school football field. The main drop-off point is at the entrance to the historical park. The organisers list seven car parks around the park.

Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is operated by Airports of Thailand. Sky lanterns and fireworks may be released only between 19:00 and 01:00 on 24 and 25 November 2026. Airports of Thailand had not published a Yi Peng flight notice for 2026 when this page was checked, so check with your airline if you fly in or out on those evenings.

See our Sukhothai guide, Chiang Mai guide, Bangkok guide and Thailand guide.

Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights.

Loy Krathong is a public tradition celebrated at rivers, canals and lakes across Thailand. In Sukhothai, the light-and-sound show at Wat Mahathat is ticketed, in three zones: yellow ฿1,200, green ฿900 and blue ฿500. The organisers take bookings by phone on 06-1242-8555 and through their LINE account (@ST2026), and say seats are limited. They haven't published whether there is a charge for general entry to the festival grounds. Krathongs are sold at points across the festival site.

Timing: in Sukhothai the festival activities start from 16:00 each day, and the light-and-sound show begins at 19:00. Loy Krathong night, 24 November 2026, is the main night, with an extra show at 20:30.

Float responsibly: Thailand's environment policy office (ONEP) asks people to share one krathong per family or group. Use natural materials and avoid plastic and foam, which don't break down. Avoid bread or flour krathongs, which go soggy and sink before fish can eat them, and paper ones, which are hard to collect. Use wooden pins instead of wire, staples or metal pins.

Lantern rules in Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai province allows sky lanterns (khom loi) and fireworks only on 24 and 25 November 2026, from 19:00 to 01:00 the following morning. Smoke lanterns (wao hom) are allowed only on 24 November, 10:00–12:00. Lanterns must meet Thai community product standard 808/2552, must stay in the air for no more than 7 minutes, and must never have firecrackers attached.

Drones: the FCDO says it is illegal to fly an unregistered drone in Thailand.

Dress: many local people wear traditional Thai clothes to the festival. The festival is held among temple ruins, so dress modestly and treat the monuments with respect.

Local food: the Sukhothai festival has a market of local and traditional dishes, including Sukhothai noodles (kuay teow Sukhothai) and khao poeb, as well as local crafts and palm-leaf krathongs made by people from Mueang Kao.

The Sukhothai organisers haven't published accessibility information. The festival map marks toilets, first aid points, the control centre and passenger drop-off points inside the historical park, and the main drop-off point is at the park entrance. The site is an outdoor historical park and is busy at night. Before you go, contact the Sukhothai Provincial Office on 055-611-619 or Sukhothai Historical Park on 055-697-310, both listed on the organisers' contact page.

The FCDO advises carrying your valuables and cash securely to guard against pickpocketing. In Chiang Mai, release lanterns only at the permitted times. The festival organisers list these numbers: Tourist Police 1155, tourist service centre 1672, medical emergency 1669, police 191 and fire 199.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Thailand (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.