Yi Peng is the northern Thai festival of light that falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, the same season as Loy Krathong. In Chiang Mai the old city fills with paper lanterns, lit gateways and floating krathongs, and for visitors the easiest way to see the lantern release itself is a ticketed evening event held at a purpose-built venue outside the city. This product is a 2026 sky lantern festival ticket with transport from the city, typically a six to seven hour evening from pick-up to drop-off. You are driven out to the venue, settle into the grounds for traditional Lanna music and dance, eat, take part in a short ceremony, and then release a lantern with the crowd as the sky darkens.
The timing matters. The festival nights in 2026 fall around 24 to 25 November, and sources differ by a day on the main night, so the date on your ticket is the one to trust. Outside the festival window these events do not run, so this is a seasonal, date-specific outing rather than a year-round sight.
Organised venues exist partly because releasing lanterns across the old city is discouraged, and a single controlled release is easier to enjoy and easier on the neighbours than hundreds of scattered launches. Expect a crowd, a lot of phones held aloft, and a pleasant mix of ceremony and spectacle rather than a quiet temple ritual.
The practical side is straightforward. Transfers handle the long drive and the traffic that builds around the venue, which is one of the main reasons people choose a package over arriving by themselves. Dress for an evening outdoors in the cool season, with a light layer for after dark, closed shoes for the field, and a small bag.
Bring a phone with a full battery, because the release is the moment everyone photographs, and be ready to hold your lantern steady while it fills with hot air before you let go. Children are welcome in most groups but should be supervised near the open flame.
If the lantern release is the headline, the surrounding days are worth planning too. In the city, Loy Krathong is the night for floating small decorated baskets on the Ping River and the moat, and the old city gates are strung with lights. Pair the ticketed evening with a daytime visit to Wat Chedi Luang or a stroll along the riverside, and book your hotel early, since rooms near the water and the old city are in the greatest demand for this one week of the year.
If your trip falls outside the festival, the Sunday Walking Street gives a very different but equally local evening.
What to expect
The experience
An evening package with a transfer to a lantern venue outside the city, Lanna performances, food, a short ceremony and a mass sky lantern release.
Best time
The festival nights around the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, which fall about 24 to 25 November in 2026; the date on your ticket decides.
How long
About six to seven hours door to door including the transfer, so keep the whole evening free.
Tips
Wear closed shoes and a light layer, charge your phone, keep children well back from the open flame, and confirm the exact date and pick-up time before the day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want to see the lantern release without working out the logistics themselves.
- Families
- Fine for school-age children with an adult beside them; the crowds and the open flames call for close supervision.
- Couples
- A memorable evening for two if the dates line up with your trip; arrive relaxed and let the transfer do the driving.
- Pair with
- A Loy Krathong riverside walk, Wat Chedi Luang by day and the Sunday Walking Street.
- Time needed
- One full evening, roughly six to seven hours with transport.
Good questions
When is Yi Peng in 2026?+
The festival falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, around 24 to 25 November 2026, with sources differing by a day on the main night. Check the date on the ticket and confirm it locally.
Is this available all year?+
No. The ticketed lantern events run only around the festival dates, so it is a seasonal outing.
Is transport included?+
This product includes a transfer from the city to the venue and back, which spares you the traffic around the site.
What is the difference between Yi Peng and Loy Krathong?+
Yi Peng is the northern Lanna lantern festival, while Loy Krathong is the Thai-wide custom of floating krathong baskets on water. In Chiang Mai they happen on the same full moon and overlap.
What should I wear?+
Closed shoes for a field, a light layer for the cool evening air and clothes you do not mind getting a little dusty. There is no strict temple dress code at a field venue.
