The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is considered to be the best and biggest lantern festival in Thailand, attracting thousands of visitors to join in on the celebrations each year.
If this beautiful event is on your bucket list, keep reading for everything you need to know before going (based on my own experience and extensive research)!
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Why is the Yi Peng Lantern Festival celebrated in Thailand?
Yi Peng (also spelled Yee Peng) is a traditional Lanna festival of lights, associated with the city of Chiang Mai – the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom in Thailand.
In northern Thai culture, making lanterns or donating them to the local temple is a way for Buddhists to make merit, and to mark the end of the rainy season. During the Yi Peng celebrations, the city of Chiang Mai fills up with colourful lanterns hung outside homes and temples.
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival also traditionally involves releasing khom loi (sky lanterns). People believe that releasing a lantern frees them from the troubles and bad luck of the previous year, as it floats away. The ritual cleanses the spirit to make good fortune wishes for the year ahead, and pays respect to Buddha.
When is the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai?
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is rooted in Buddhism, and it’s celebrated for three days, ending on the full moon day of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, which normally falls in November.
The next Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival will take place on the 24th and 25th of November 2026.
In Chiang Mai, Yi Peng is uniquely celebrated alongside the national Thai festival of Loy Krathong. It involves the tradition of making krathong (small decorated baskets), which are then floated on a river to pay respect to one’s ancestors and to the water goddess Phra Mae Khongkha (Ganga).
If you’re in Chiang Mai during these dates, you’ll be able to experience both festivals at once!
Is the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Thailand free?
While most towns across Northern Thailand celebrate Yi Peng, Chiang Mai is the most popular place where visitors come to experience this beautiful ancient lantern festival.
It’s free to experience the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivities in the city of Chiang Mai. However, due to safety restrictions and proximity to the airport, the release of khom loi (sky lanterns) is not allowed in the city centre anymore.
Therefore, you must travel outside the city to either free public celebrations or privately arranged events in remote areas outside of the city of Chiang Mai to participate in mass lantern releases during the Yi Peng Lantern Festival.
List of free Yi Peng and Loy Krathong celebrations in Chiang Mai for 2026:
- 23 November 2026: Hundreds of dancers from different districts of Chiang Mai gather at the square in front of the Three Kings Monument in traditional costumes for the Tam Phang Patid ritual – a traditional dance performed while holding small candles. Tourists are welcome to join in on the ceremony by lighting candles provided by the organisers.
- 23-25 November 2026: Lighting of handmade clay candles around the Old City Moat, especially near Wat Lok Moli on the north side. Tourists are welcome to join by lighting candles along the moat’s wall – you can purchase clay candles at local shops and markets for an affordable price.
- 23-25 November 2026: Decorations, prayers and chants at temples across the city. Tourists are welcome to join by lighting candles and placing them on the designated areas around the various temple grounds in Chiang Mai. Popular temples include Wat Lok Moli, Wat Inthakhin, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Phra Singh.
- 23-25 November 2026: Various festival events and celebrations at Tha Phae Gate.
- 24-25 November 2026: Loy Krathong ritual at Ping River and Khlong Mae Kha (Mae Kha Canal) – release of krathongs (small, decorated floating baskets) into the water. Tourists are welcome to join the celebration – you can buy krathongs from street vendors along the river/canal.
- 25 November 2026: On the final evening of the festival, Chiang Mai also hosts the Grand Krathong Parade, with illuminated floats, traditional music, and cultural performances around the city. The parade starts at Tha Phae Gate and ends at the Chiang Mai Municipality Office.
Free Public Yi Peng Lantern Festival Celebrations
There are some free, public Yi Peng celebrations in Northern Thailand where it is possible to release khom loi (sky lanterns) legally.
These local celebrations are naturally less-organised and more chaotic than the ticketed events, but they offer a more authentic experience and atmosphere. As they are not synchronised events, you can purchase your own lantern from the street vendors and release it whenever you like.
Given the travel distance and number of people attending, prepare for crowds and both parking and road traffic issues from Chiang Mai and back. Make sure to bring cash to pay for lanterns, food, snacks and drinks (or bring your own).
Doi Saket Lake is the most convenient and well-known free Yi Peng festival near Chiang Mai – located just 20km (14 miles) from the city.
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the Lanna Lantern Festival at Doi Saket has been temporarily suspended due to an upcoming community area development project. For now, it is still uncertain if the event will go ahead in 2026.
Private and Ticketed Yi Peng Lantern Festival Events
Given the growing restrictions around the release of khom loi (sky lanterns) around Chiang Mai, securing tickets for one of the private Yi Peng Lantern Festival Events is one of the best ways to guarantee that you’ll be able to legally and safely join a lantern mass-release event.
As the ticketed events are organised for a synchronised release of the lanterns, this is how you can experience witnessing thousands of lanterns floating away.
The ticketed Yi Peng Lantern Festival events can be expensive. However, tickets often include transport, food and drink, lanterns, and any celebrations within the grounds – usually including cultural workshops and the floating of krathongs.
The Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival is the biggest lantern festival event in Thailand. The event is held on both days of Yi Peng (24th and 25th of November 2026) at a spacious compound about 35km (22 miles) east of the city of Chiang Mai.
The event includes round-trip transport from Chiang Mai, as well as food and drink catered to various dietary needs, cultural workshops and shows, floating of reusable krathong, a Buddhist chanting ritual, and of course, the breathtaking synchronised mass release of sky lanterns.
There is also a strong emphasis on the eco-friendliness of the event. Read my full review of the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival here.
Tickets: You can purchase tickets from Klook* or the official website, starting from 4,900 THB (GBP 115 / USD 150).
*Use my code “JESSVKLOOK” for 10% off your first purchase, or 3% off for existing customers
The Yee Peng Lanna International is the original private lantern festival in Chiang Mai, established in 2013. The event is held on both days of Yi Peng (24th and 25th of November 2026) next to Mae Jo University, about 19km (12 miles) north of the city.
The event includes round-trip transport from Chiang Mai, as well as food and drink, exhibitions, a Buddhist religious ceremony, and the synchronised mass release of sky lanterns.
Tickets: You can purchase tickets from the official website, starting from 4,800 THB (GBP 115 / USD 154).
The Loy Krathong and Sky Lantern Festival at Horizon Village Chiang Mai is a smaller-scale, private event that still attracts about 1,000 people per day and has lower ticket prices.
The event is held on both days of Yi Peng (24th and 25th of November 2026) at the resort in the Doi Saket district, just under 16km (10 miles) outside of Chiang Mai city centre.
Tickets include food and drink, access to the Botanical Garden, Thai massages, cultural performances, the release of krathong, and the synchronised release of sky lanterns. Transportation is not included, but you can also stay overnight at the resort.
Tickets can be purchased via Klook*, from 2,500 THB (GBP 59 / USD 78).
*Use my code “JESSVKLOOK” for 10% off your first purchase, or 3% off for existing customers
The Yee Peng Lanna Festival is a private event organised by the Lamphun Gassan Panorama Golf Club on both days of Yi Peng (24th and 25th of November 2026), about 28km (17 miles) southeast of Chiang Mai city centre.
Tickets include round-trip transport from Chiang Mai, a buffet dinner, workshops, cultural performances, and the synchronised release of sky lanterns.
Tickets can be purchased via Klook*, from 4,500 THB (GBP 104 / USD 142).
*Use my code “JESSVKLOOK” for 10% off your first purchase, or 3% off for existing customers
The Chiang Mai Heritage Sky Lanterns Festival is a smaller-scale event, held on both days of Yi Peng (24th and 25th of November 2026) at Rock N’ River, about 45km (28 miles) outside of Chiang Mai city centre.
Tickets include round-trip transport from Chiang Mai, a buffet dinner, local craft souvenirs, workshops, cultural performances, and the synchronised release of sky lanterns.
Tickets can be purchased via Klook* or the official website, from 4,900 THB (GBP 117 / USD 157).
*Use my code “JESSVKLOOK” for 10% off your first purchase, or 3% off for existing customers
The Moonlight Sky Lanterns Festival is a newer, lesser-known event that is held on both days of Yi Peng (24th and 25th of November 2026) and takes place 30km (19 miles) southeast of Chiang Mai city centre.
Tickets include round-trip transport from Chiang Mai, food and drink, cultural activities, the release of krathong, and the synchronised release of sky lanterns.
Tickets can be purchased via the official website, from 4,500 THB (GBP 108 / USD 145).
How to get to the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival?
You can easily reach Chiang Mai by flying directly into Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) from Bangkok and other domestic Thai airports (Phuket, Koh Samui, Udon Thani), as well as from international destinations like Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, among many others.
If you’re travelling from farther away, you can find flights with layovers in Bangkok or other Asian destinations with direct connections to Chiang Mai.
Visiting Bangkok on your way to Chiang Mai? Check out my Perfect Bangkok 3-Day Itinerary for First-Timers!
If you’re sticking around Chiang Mai’s city centre to enjoy all the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivities, you can get around easily using Bolt or Grab. If you have tickets to a private Yi Peng Lantern Festival event outside of Chiang Mai, these usually include round-trip transfers with the ticket, from a designated meeting point.
Please bear in mind that during the two days of the Yi Peng festival, there may be road closures in the city, due to the Grand Krathong Parade, and both traffic and the usage of ride-sharing apps increases. Make sure to plan ahead for longer travel times and a shortage of drivers available.
What to wear to the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival?
As the festival is rooted in traditional spiritual beliefs and often includes religious ceremonies, it’s polite to respect a modest dress code:
- Cover your knees and shoulders: Long trousers, maxi skirts/dresses, t-shirts, and capris or skirts/shorts past knee-length are acceptable. Avoid clothing that exposes the midriff or cleavage.
- Comfort is essential: The weather in Chiang Mai around Yi Peng is usually hot and humid, so opt for breathable, light clothing. You may need to walk and stand on dusty or muddy ground from the rain, so make sure to wear comfortable, flat shoes that you can easily take off (particularly when visiting temples).
- Check the weather: Depending on the dates, you may experience rain or colder weather later in the evenings. Check the forecast and bring a light jacket and a small umbrella or a waterproof rain poncho.
- Opt for white or light colours: Due to the spiritual nature of the festival, it is traditional and highly-encouraged to wear white or light-coloured clothing, especially when attending ceremonies or near temples.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai for the Yi Peng Lantern Festival
I recommend staying in the city centre of Chiang Mai – hopefully you are visiting Chiang Mai to experience its culture alongside the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong celebrations, so this will leave you better located to explore all of its main sights.
Hotels in Chiang Mai
When visiting Chiang Mai for Yi Peng, I stayed at Astra Sky River Chiang Mai.
While not in the most centrally-located area, I decided to stay at these apartments due to their affordable price and premium facilities: the building has one of the biggest infinity pools in Thailand, as well as amazing views over the city, a fitness centre, a spa, and a work lounge with meeting rooms.
The apartment was clean and modern, the bed was comfortable, and we had a small kitchenette with a washing machine, which was very convenient when our clothes got dirty from the rain.
There is also a 7-Eleven right across the street, as well as a coffee shop, a hairdresser, a luggage storage shop, and a shop selling tours and transfers. I found it very convenient, though it does require a short ride to go into the city centre of Chiang Mai.
Here are some other accommodations I recommend in Chiang Mai:
Budget ($)
Hostel One Art and Gallery
This might be one of the most stylish hostels you can find in the city centre of Chiang Mai, to immerse yourself in the local architecture and culture.
Boutique ($$)
Wannamas Chiangmai Boutique House
This traditional Northern Thai house converted into a boutique hotel is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the local culture and architecture style. It is also located within walking distance to several temples in the city.
Boutique ($$$)
The Inside House
This is one of Chiang Mai’s most coveted boutique hotels, mainly for its pool suites that allow you to swim directly from your room and in complete privacy. The location is also perfect for exploring the Old Town of Chiang Mai.
Luxury ($$$)
Melia Chiang Mai
If you’re looking for a luxurious stay, basing yourself alongside the Ping River at the Melia is a great idea. The hotel design blends traditional with modern, and it is also home to Mai The Sky Bar – the highest rooftop bar in Chiang Mai, with 360-degree city views.
Finally – Is the Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai worth it?
In my opinion – yes!
Even if we put the private lantern release events to the side, I would argue that Yi Peng is one of the best times of the year to visit Chiang Mai, as the city comes alive with colourful celebrations, cultural performances, and cheerful spirit.
Despite Yi Peng being a popular celebration with foreign visitors, I found Chiang Mai to be large enough to disperse people, so nowhere felt particularly overcrowded.
The private Yi Peng Lantern Festivals will feel much more catered to tourists, but it truly is a beautiful celebration that’s unique to Chiang Mai at this scale. Read my full review of the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival here.
Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival: FAQ
Last thoughts
If experiencing the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai is on your bucket list, I hope my guide helps answer all your questions and make the most of your time!
Feel free to write any questions you may have in the comments – I’ll do my best to help.
Off to other parts of Thailand? Check out my guides below:
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